INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

MARITIME KNOWLEDGE CENTRE (MKC)

“Sharing Maritime Knowledge”

CURRENT AWARENESS BULLETIN

APRIL 2021

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Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC)

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About the MKC Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB)

The aim of the MKC Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) is to provide a digest of news and publications focusing on key subjects and themes related to the work of IMO. Each CAB issue presents headlines from the previous month. For copyright reasons, the Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) contains brief excerpts only. Links to the complete articles or abstracts on publishers' sites are included, although access may require payment or subscription.

The MKC Current Awareness Bulletin is disseminated monthly and issues from the current and the past years are free to download from this page.

Email us if you would like to receive email notification when the most recent Current Awareness Bulletin is available to be downloaded.

The Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) is published by the Maritime Knowledge Centre and is not an official IMO publication. Inclusion does not imply any endorsement by IMO.

Table of Contents

IMO NEWS & EVENTS ...... 2 UNITED NATIONS ...... 4 CASUALTIES ...... 5 ENVIRONMENT ...... 6 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ...... 7 HEALTH & SAFETY ...... 8 IMO ...... 12 LAW & POLICY ...... 14 MARINE TECHNOLOGY ...... 21 MARITIME EDUCATION & TRAINING ...... 22 MARITIME SAFETY ...... 23 MARITIME SECURITY ...... 23 MIGRANTS ...... 25 NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATIONS ...... 26 PIRACY ...... 27 PORT STATE CONTROL ...... 28 PORTS & HARBOURS ...... 29 REGULATIONS ...... 30 SALVAGE ...... 31 SEAFARERS ...... 31 SEARCH & RESCUE ...... 37 SHIP RECYCLING ...... 38 SHIPBUILDING & SHIPREPAIR ...... 38 SHIPPING ...... 39 RESEARCH ...... 48

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IMO NEWS & EVENTS

WHAT’S NEW

IMO working group agrees guidelines to support new GHG measures

Guidelines to support new carbon intensity cutting measures agreed by working group ahead of MEPC.

An International Maritime Organization (IMO) working group has agreed a set of draft guidelines to support mandatory measures to cut the carbon intensity of all ships.

The proposed mandatory measures have already been approved by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and are expected to be adopted when the MEPC meets for its 76th session from 10-17 June, 2021.

The proposed amendments to the MARPOL Convention would require ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity. This is in line with the ambition of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy, which aims to reduce carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% by 2030, compared to 2008. More…

Autonomous ships: regulatory scoping exercise completed

IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee finalizes its analysis of ship safety treaties, to assess next steps for regulating Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at its 103rd session in May 2021, has completed a regulatory scoping exercise to analyze relevant ship safety treaties, in order to assess how Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) could be regulated.

The completion of the scoping exercise represents an all important first step, paving the way to focused discussions to ensure that regulation will keep pace with technological developments.

The scoping exercise was initiated in 2017 to determine how safe, secure and environmentally sound MASS operations might be addressed in IMO instruments. More…

IMO’s Kitack Lim urges fair vaccine distribution for seafarers

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has called on all IMO Member States to support a fair global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, beyond fulfilling their national needs, to ensure seafarers can access vaccines.

In a statement, Mr. Lim reiterated his call for seafarers and marine personnel to be designated as “key workers” and noted that some key maritime labour supply countries are reliant on the COVAX initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to access vaccines.

“To ensure access to vaccines of those countries, I call on all IMO Member States to work together towards a fair global distribution, beyond fulfilling their national needs. No seafarers should be left behind or forced to forgo their careers because of limited resources in their home country”, Mr. Lim said. More…

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Programme of Meetings for 2021 (issued 8 December 2020) can be downloaded here

Previous Meetings (REMOTE)

Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 103) – 5-14 May

Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (8) – 24-28 May

Facilitation Committee (FAL 45) – 1-7 June

Forthcoming Meetings (REMOTE)

Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 76) – 10-17 June

IMO Council (C 125) – 28 June – 2 July

LATEST PRESS BRIEFINGS

IMO calls for further action to address Gulf of Guinea piracy 19 May 2021

IMO encourages priority vaccination for seafarers 18 May 2021

Supply chains firms urged to protect seafarers’ rights 6 May 2021

RECENT SPEECHES BY IMO SECRETARY-GENERAL KITACK LIM

Facilitation Committee, 45th session (FAL 45), (Opening remarks) 1-7 June

P4G Seoul Summit Green Future Sessions: Oceans 26 May

Petersberg Climate Dialogue series - Turning the tides: Setting shipping on course 6 May

Maritime Safety Committee, 103rd session (MSC 103), (Opening and Closing remarks) 5-14 May

IMO NEWS MAGAZINE Autumn/Winter 2020

IMO PUBLISHING Just Published 2021

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UNITED NATIONS

COVID-19 lays bare social inequality says UN chief, as COVAX doses top 36 million. UN News. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1089042 The COVID crisis “has revealed how unequal our societies are” said the UN chief in his message for World Health Day released on Monday.

COVID-19 equitable vaccine scheme reaches more than 100 countries and economies. UN News. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1089352 More than 100 countries and economies have now received COVID-19 vaccines through the UN-partnered equitable coronavirus-busting scheme, COVAX.

“Ocean Action for Sustainability – Building a Global Vision to tackle Plastic Pollution”, High-Level UNEP virtual event, Remarks by Ambassador Peter Thomson, UNSG’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. United Nations. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/zh/node/32584 In his State of the Planet address just two months ago, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said humanity is waging a suicidal war on Nature.

Commit to restoring the planet, UN chief says in message for International Mother Earth Day. UN News. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1090262 UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for commitment to restoring the planet, and to making peace with nature, in his message to mark International Mother Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April.

Deadly shipwreck off Venezuela underscores need for safe migration pathways, protection. UN News. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1090582 The latest shipwreck in the Caribbean has highlighted the need for safe migration pathways, particularly in the COVID-19 era when many borders remain closed, two UN agencies said on Monday.

Key workers need greater protections amidst COVID fight, new ILO report warns. UN News. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1090772 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the workplace dangers faced by key workers who need far greater protection to do their jobs safely, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday.

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CASUALTIES

NTSB Finds Speed an Issue in 2019 Houston Ship Channel Collision; Liquefied Gas Carrier Genesis River and Voyager Tow. US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 30 March 2021. Available from: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press- releases/Pages/NR20210330.aspx Vessel speed was a factor in the 2019 collision between a liquefied propane gas tanker and a barge in the Houston Ship Channel that resulted in the release of 11,000 barrels of petrochemicals, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. Summary Full Report

Investigator boards ship at start of probe into Suez Canal blockage. Reuters. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3vETgew Divers inspected the hull of the Ever Given on Wednesday as the man tasked with investigating how the giant container ship ran aground, choking off international trade through the Suez Canal for almost a week, boarded the vessel.

Crew abandon Dutch heavylift cargo ship in danger of capsizing off Norway. Jonathan Boonzaier. TradeWinds. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/crew-abandon-dutch-heavylift-cargo-ship-in-danger-of- capsizing-off-norway/2-1-990977 A heavylift cargo ship was left abandoned and drifting in the Norwegian Sea on Monday night after its crew were airlifted to safety as it took on a severe list.

‘Bad Fuel’ Cited as MSC Containership Breaks Down En Route to Los Angeles. Mike Schuler. gCaptain. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://gcaptain.com/bad-fuel-cited-as-msc-containership- breaks-down-en-route-to-los-angeles/ A 366-meter containership belonging to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has broken down in the Pacific Ocean after reporting a fuel quality issue and the ship is now under tow to Japan, MSC has confirmed in a customer advisory.

No fatalities, oil leak in tanker-ship collision off Cavite: PCG. Philippine News Agency (PNA). 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136167 The mariners aboard a tanker and merchant ship that collided Wednesday off the coast of Cavite are “in good condition” while no oil leaks have so far been detected Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

New Maersk Tankers-run MR damaged in smash with Latsis bulker. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/new-maersk-tankers-run- mr-damaged-in-smash-with-latsis-bulker/2-1-992497 A new Maersk Tankers-managed MR product carrier has suffered extensive damage in a collision off the Philippines with a Latsis-controlled bulker.

Missing Indonesian submarine has 72 hours of oxygen left, navy says. BBC News. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-56829278 The KRI Nanggala-402 vessel is thought to have disappeared about 60 miles (100km) off the coast of Bali early on Wednesday morning.

UPDATED: Indonesian Navy Finds Missing Submarine Wreckage, All Aboard Dead. Dzirhan Mahadzir. US Naval Institute News. 24 April 2021. Available from: https://news.usni.org/2021/04/24/indonesian-navy-declares-missing-submarine-sunk-after-finding- debris The Indonesian Armed Forces announced the finding of the wreckage of attack submarine KRI Nanggala (402) and that all 53 personnel on board it had perished.

Fire extinguished on oil tanker off Syria after suspected drone attack. Reuters. 25 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3cbvQWm Syria’s oil ministry said firefighters on Saturday put out a fire on an oil tanker off the Baniyas refinery after a suspected attack by a drone coming from the direction of Lebanese waters.

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Attack or accident? Events unclear as Syria reports three killed in attack on tanker. TradeWinds. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/attack-or- accident-events-unclear-as-syria-reports-three-killed-in-attack-on-tanker/2-1-1001133 Syrian authorities have reported a fatal attack on an Iranian tanker off its coast, but Iranian sources have claimed the incident was a welding accident.

Fire and explosion on tanker carrying Iranian oil ‘an accident’. Declan Bush. Lloyd’s List. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136585 Security sources doubt that a drone strike caused an explosion on the Panama-flagged tanker Wisdom, which was carrying Iranian oil to Syria.

Shipping Containers Plunge Overboard as Supply Race Raises Risks. Ann Koh. Bloomberg. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/shipping-containers- plunge-overboard-as-supply-race-raises-risks Containers piled high on giant vessels carrying everything from car tires to smartphones are toppling over at an alarming rate, sending millions of dollars of cargo sinking to the bottom of the ocean as pressure to speed deliveries raises the risk of safety errors.

Spill response launched off Qingdao after tanker struck by cargoship. Nigel Lowry. Lloyd’s List. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136597/ Incident took place in ‘zero visibility’ while suezmax was at anchor, says manager.

Work to remove oil from stricken tanker in China set to start on Friday. Muyu Xu and Martin Quin Pollard. Reuters. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3vHArr1 Work to siphon off the remaining cargo from a stricken tanker was expected to commence on Friday, the vessel’s manager said on Thursday, two days after hundreds of tonnes of oil spilled into the Yellow Sea following a collision in dense fog.

Union calls for investigation into Inge Kosan’s man overboard. Neil Breen. 4BC (Australia). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.4bc.com.au/union-calls-for-investigation-into-inge- kosans-man-overboard/ The Maritime Union of Australia is calling for an investigation into a mystery plaguing the Inge Kosan.

ENVIRONMENT

Climate change top challenge over the next decade, UNESCO global survey finds. UN News. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1088812 Climate change and loss of biodiversity is seen as the most pressing challenge over the decade, according to the World in 2030 Survey report published on Wednesday by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

How data is transforming the way we care for the ocean. Bjorn Tore Markussen and Kristian Teleki. World Economic Forum. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/how-a-digitized-version-of-the-ocean-can-help-the-planet- gtgs/ Turning commitments and ideas into the actions needed for a sustainable blue economy will require evidence and data.

Greenpeace Confronts Deep Sea Mining Industry. Crystal Mojica. Greenpeace International. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/greenpeace-confronts-deep- sea-mining-industry/ For the first time in Greenpeace International history, activists on the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior took action against companies preparing to mine the Pacific Ocean’s seabed.

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Japan plans to release Fukushima’s wastewater into the ocean. Dennis Normile. Science. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/japan-plans-release- fukushima-s-contaminated-water-ocean Japan announced today it will release 1.25 million tons of treated wastewater contaminated by the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Protesters target TUI cruise ship in Torbay. Lili Stebbings. DevonLive (UK). 18 April 2021. Available from: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/protesters-target-tui-cruise-ship- 5313540 Protesters held a demonstration alongside cruise ships anchored in the Bay amid claims they are damaging the environment.

US pledges to double international climate finance at Earth Day summit. Chloé Farand. Climate Home News. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/04/22/us-pledges-double-international-climate-finance- earth-day-summit/ Joe Biden has promised to double US international climate finance by 2024 and triple funding for adaptation, in a bid to restore US credibility on tackling the climate crisis.

Marine environment: pollution, preparedness, response and cooperation. Jan Rossi and Ilias Theocharis. Times of Malta. 25 April 2021. Available from: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/marine-environment-pollution-preparedness-response-and- cooperation.867334 The ‘International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-Operation 1990’ and the ‘Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-Operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances’, are two international legal instruments drawn by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity. Victoria Kwakwa and Alfonso Garcia Mora. World Bank. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/plastic-waste-growing-menace-and-wasted-opportunity The use of plastics is deeply embedded in our daily lives, in everything from grocery bags and cutlery to water bottles and sandwich wrap.

Biden’s policy shift in Yemen courts environmental disaster. Morgan Lorraine Viña and Simone Ledeen. The Hill (US). 6 April 2021. Available from: https://thehill.com/opinion/international/546680-bidens-policy-shift-in-yemen-courts-environmental- disaster A major disaster is unfolding in slow motion, with the international community seemingly incapable of taking any action other than public hand wringing.

36 carriers reported to the police by Denmark’s EPA for emitting too much sulfur. Dag Holmstad. ShippingWatch. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12888500.ece 36 shipping companies have been reported to Danish police in the past five years because one of their vessels were violating the Danish sulfur directive by emitting too much sulfur.

Ocean noise: Study to measure the oceans’ ‘year of quiet’. Victoria Gill. BBC News. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56676820 Ocean scientists around the world are studying the “unique moment” of quiet created by the pandemic.

Illegal driftnet use widespread in Indian Ocean, Greenpeace says. Katharine Houreld. Reuters. 11 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3yTFo23 Greenpeace has uncovered widespread use of illegal driftnets in the northwest Indian Ocean, which it says are decimating marine life in what is one of the world’s most ecologically vulnerable fishing grounds.

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The long reach of Mount Etna’s gas emissions. Jonathan Amos. BBC News. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56735508 Recent eruptions at Europe’s most active volcano, Mt Etna, have led to a spike is sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions across the Mediterranean.

Decades after the oil spill that inspired Earth Day, are we prepared for the next one? Lindsay Key. Phys.org. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://phys.org/news/2021-04-decades-oil- earth-day.html A blow-out from Union Oil’s offshore platform six miles from the city of Santa Barbara leaked an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 barrels of crude oil into the Santa Barbara Channel, killing approximately 3,500 sea birds and marine animals such as dolphins, elephant seals, and sea lions.

Oil tanker leaks crude after collision near China’s Qingdao port. Alfred Cang and Ann Koh. Al Jazeera. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/4/27/oil-tanker- leaks-crude-after-collision-near-chinas-qingdao-port A 900-foot crude tanker leaked oil into the ocean just outside China’s biggest refining center, raising the specter of environmental damage and disruption of shipments.

Chinese crews begin cleaning up 500-tonne oil spill near Qingdao. South China Morning Post. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3131408/chinese-crews- begin-cleaning-500-tonne-oil-spill-near-qingdao 12 vessels have been dispatched to deal with the accident, Shandong Maritime Safety Administration official says.

IOMSR joins Eyesea ocean clean up campaign. Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR). 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.iomshipregistry.com/news/2021/apr/iomsr-joins-eyesea-ocean-clean-up- campaign/ The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) is formally backing the Eyesea initiative, the not for profit organisation formed last year to map marine pollution.

Cruise ships’ fix for dirty smoke led to water pollution in South Florida ports, study finds. Alex Harris and Taylor Dolven. Miami Herald (US). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article250980394.html In an effort to curb their air pollution, cargo and cruise ships have been forced to reduce the sulfur in their emissions since January 2020.

HEALTH & SAFETY

ITF: Seafarers must be prioritised for vaccine. International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN). 30 March 2021. Available from: https://www.seafarerswelfare.org/news/2021/itf- seafarers-must-be-prioritised-for-vaccine The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has reiterated its strong request for seafarers and aviation workers to be prioritised by governments in their COVID-19 vaccination programmes.

Vaccination lottery for the dry bulk sector. INTERCARGO. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.intercargo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/INTERCARGO-MEDIA- RELEASE_31_03_2021.pdf Once again seafarers are falling victim to the lack of focus and joined up thinking from leaders of governments and the maritime industry, which has become apparent during the current on-going crew change crisis.

Coronavirus and seafarer mental health – the good news. Johan Smith. Splash 247.com. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/coronavirus-and-seafarer-mental-health-the- good-news/ There’s no vaccine against poor mental health, writes Johan Smith from Sailors’ Society.

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Standardisation of vaccination essential for seafarers, says Synergy. Lloyd’s List. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136345/ The founder of shipmanager Synergy Marine, Rajesh Unni, sees a perfect storm brewing, with ports turning away unvaccinated seafarers.

One year on from Ruby Princess incident, the Illawarra community reflects on the role it played. Ainslie Drewitt-Smith. ABC (Australia). 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-06/one-year-since-ruby-princess-arrived-in-the- illawarra/100050194 A New South Wales community is marking one year since the cruise ship at the centre of one of Australia’s largest coronavirus outbreaks docked in the region.

Health authorities in Seychelles to vaccinate foreign seafarers against COVID-19 following 2 deaths. Seychelles News Agency. 7 April 2021. Available from: http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/14630/Health+authorities+in+Seychelles+to+vaccinat e+foreign+seafarers+against+COVID-+following++deaths Health authorities in Seychelles are working with local shipping agencies to vaccinate foreign seafarers on vessels fishing in the island nation’s waters, said a top official.

Kiwi Seafarers Endangered By Vaccine Policy. Scoop (New Zealand). 10 April 2021. Available from: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2104/S00074/kiwi-seafarers-endangered-by- vaccine-policy.htm Kiwi Seafarers continue to feel shortchanged by the New Zealand Government.

Ground-breaking global study unveils the mental health minefield of the remote rotational workforce. International SOS Foundation. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.internationalsos.com/news-releases/ground-breaking-global-study-unveils-the-mental- health-minefield-of-the-remote-rotational-workforce-apr-12-2021 Whether on or offshore, the work and lifestyle of a remote rotational worker is unique.

New study unveils the mental health ‘minefield’ seafarers face. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/new-study-unveils-the- mental-health-minefield-seafarers-face/ Whether on or offshore, the work and lifestyle of remote rotational workers, including seafarers, is unique.

Coronavirus vaccine passports: everything you need to know. Umberto Bacchi. World Economic Forum. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/coronavirus-covid19-vaccine-passports-travel/ Digital tools to certify immunity from COVID-19 could help ease lockdowns.

Cruise ship serves as quarantine facility. Genivi Verdejo. Manila Times. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/14/business/maritime-business/cruise-ship- serves-as-quarantine-facility/863676/ The maritime sector of the Department of Transportation, consisting of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Philippine Ports Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard , has facilitated the arrival of approximately 1000 Filipino crew members aboard MV “Norwegian Encore” at the Port of Manila on April 11, 2021.

Missed positive coronavirus test delays vessel for 11 days. Declan Bush. Lloyd’s List. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136470/Missed- positive-coronavirus-test-delays-vessel-for-11-days Mutual insurer the International Transport Intermediaries Club urged vigilance in checking Covid-19 tests after a missed positive result caused an 11-day delay and a $175,000 claim.

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Oil tanker stops unexpectedly off Cape Breton, 8 crew members sick with COVID-19. Adam McNamara. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 14 April 2021. Available from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sti-san-telmo-oil-tanker-port-hawkesbury-covid-19- 1.5986914 An oil tanker that’s been anchored unexpectedly off Port Hawkesbury, N.S., since Sunday changed course to Cape Breton over concerns of possible COVID-19-related sickness on board the vessel.

MARINO hails inclusion of seafarers in vaccine priority list. Philippine Information Agency (PIA). 14 April 2021. Available from: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1072242.amp MARINO Party-list, the only seafarer representative in Congress, on Tuesday thanked the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases for the upgrade in the status of seafarers in the vaccination program of the government, as the party-list earlier urged in House Resolution 1473.

Covid-19 Vaccine to the Seafarers. Government of Kenya. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://mod.go.ke/news-releases/covid-19-vaccine-to-the-seafarers/ The Kenya Navy Medical team conducted a Covid -19 vaccination exercise to sea-farers at Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa on 13 April 2021.

Hapag-Lloyd and HMM containerships suffer Covid-19 cases in US. Dale Wainwright. TradeWinds. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/containerships/hapag-lloyd-and-hmm-containerships-suffer-covid- 19-cases-in-us/2-1-996566 Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed two separate cases of Covid-19 among seafarers on one of its ships and on one belonging to the Alliance partner HMM.

Insurer urges COVID-19 test checks. Rebecca Jeffrey. Maritime Journal. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/industry-news/insurer-urges-covid-19- test-checks The importance of thoroughly checking the results of crew COVID-19 tests has been highlighted by a transport insurer.

Two seafarers dead after Covid-19 cases reported on three ships in Brazil. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/two- seafarers-dead-after-covid-19-cases-reported-on-three-ships-in-brazil/2-1-997439 Two seafarers have died and another is in hospital as Brazil’s dire Covid-19 emergency spread to three vessels.

Bahamas Maritime Authority to implement research into the mental wellbeing of seafarers. Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA). 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bahamasmaritime.com/bma-news/bahamas-maritime-authority-to-implement-research- into-the-mental-wellbeing-of-seafarers/ The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is today announcing a new survey, the Seafarer COVID-19 Welfare Survey, designed to capture and reflect the mental health needs of seafarers around the world during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria, others charged on seafarers, aircrew COVID-19 vaccination. Adaku Onyenucheya. Guardian (Nigeria). 21 April 2021. Available from: https://guardian.ng/business- services/maritime/nigeria-others-charged-on-seafarers-aircrew-covid-19-vaccination/ The International Transport Workers’ Federation has called on Nigeria and other countries to prioritise seafarers and aircrew in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination programmes.

Body of seafarer washes up on Vanuatu and tests positive for Covid-19. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/body-of- seafarer-washes-up-on-vanuatu-and-tests-positive-for-covid-19/2-1-998764 The Pacific island of Vanuatu has gone into lockdown after a body of a seafarer who tested positive for Covid-19 was found on a beach.

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What the Ever Given can tell us about mental health at sea. Lee Clarke. Splash 247.com. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/what-the-ever-given-can-tell-us-about-mental- health-at-sea/ Being a seafarer is a stressful job, irrespective of a global incident, especially when you factor in being away from family for extended periods and working contract to contract with little job security.

COVID-19-positive sailors in limbo at sea after Vanuatu government fails to provide treatment. Marian Faa. ABC (Australia). 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04- 23/sailor-positive-covid-19-vanuatu-onshore-treatment/100090026 There are concerns about the wellbeing of 12 sailors on board a large gas tanker that left Vanuatu, initially heading for the Solomon Islands, with all but one infected with COVID-19.

Union Once Again Presses the Case to Close Biosecurity Loophole to Prevent Covid Spread. Handy Shipping Guide. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/union-once-again-presses-the-case-to-close- biosecurity-loophole-to-prevent-covid-spread_13646 The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), probably not the most favoured group amongst the country’s politicians, is clearly running out of patience with the government over its inaction when it comes to dealing with the Covid pandemic in maritime matters.

Seafarers & COVID-19: INTERCARGO Statement of concern. INTERCARGO. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.intercargo.org/seafarers-covid-statement-of-concern/ INTERCARGO is deeply saddened to hear reports of recent incidents on vessels where a significant number of crew members have been suffering from COVID and in some tragic cases, this has resulted in loss of life.

Sydney port workers await COVID-19 results after boarding ship with positive crew members. Kathleen Ferguson. ABC (Australia). 24 April 2021. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-23/nsw-covid-19-scare-after-infected-ship-docks-at-port- botany/100089764 A dozen crew members on a ship that docked in Sydney have tested positive for coronavirus, forcing local port workers to get tested and isolate.

COVID tanker crew bound for Australia. Craig Skehan. Canberra Times (Australia). 25 April 2021. Available from: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7224691/covid-tanker-crew-bound-for- australia/ A British-flagged tanker ship with COVID-positive crew is making its way towards Australia and has been given permission to anchor off Brisbane.

Belgium gives green light to priority vaccination for seafarers. Gary Dixon and Julian Bray. TradeWinds. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/people/belgium-gives- green-light-to-priority-vaccination-for-seafarers/2-1-1001038 The Belgian government has agreed to prioritise Covid-19 vaccines for seafarers on its vessels.

Queensland health authorities to assess COVID struck crew on board British-flagged tanker Inge Kosan. Nick Gibbs and Craig Skehan. 7News (Australia). 27 April 2021. Available from: https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/qld-health-to-treat-crew-aboard-covid-ship-c-2693571 Health workers will assess COVID-positive crew on board a British-flagged tanker ship after it was given permission to anchor off Brisbane.

InterManager vows to source vaccinations for seafarers. InterManager. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.intermanager.org/2021/04/intermanager-vows-to-source-vaccinations- for-seafarers/ Frustrated by the lack of progress and slow pace of international efforts, InterManager has vowed to work separately to obtain much-needed Covid-19 vaccines to protect the world’s more than one and a half million seafarers and thereby keep international trade routes open.

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India responds to crew crisis by vaccinating seafarers in Mumbai. Adam Corbett and Irene Ang. TradeWinds. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/ship- management/india-responds-to-crew-crisis-by-vaccinating-seafarers-in-mumbai/2-1-1001962 The UK is also exempting seafarers from a national ban on travellers from India under key worker status.

Synergy Group CEO expects Covid-19 to stick around for several years. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12931261.ece Synergy Group’s, Rajesh Unni, says there is no time limit on the pandemic and urges seafarers to be prioritized in the vaccination queue.

Post-mortem ‘inconclusive’ as Inge Kosan quarantined in Australia. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/news/post-mortem-inconclusive-as- inge-kosan-quarantined-in-australia/2-1-1002825 Investigation continues into why Covid-positive seafarer washed up on Vanuatu beach.

Three more virus cases emerge on Qld ship. West Australian. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://thewest.com.au/news/health/three-more-virus-cases-emerge-on-qld-ship-c-2714976 Three new coronavirus cases have been reported on the gas tanker Inge Kosan off the coast of Queensland.

IMO

Shipping has seven months to show decarbonisation progress. Anastassios Adamopoulos. Lloyd’s List. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136228/ The next Marine Environment Protection Committee in June is the last opportunity for the IMO to demonstrate intentions to satisfy delegates and critics ahead of November’s COP26.

IMO on notice about expedition of Iranian merchant ship attacked: Spox. Islamic Republic News Agency - IRNA (Iran). 7 April 2021. Available from: https://en.irna.ir/news/84287396/IMO-on- notice-about-expedition-of-Iranian-merchant-ship-attacked Speaking to reporters, Khatibzadeh said that Iran’s cargo ship named Saviz was damaged by an explosion on Tuesday 6 a.m. local time in the Red Sea near Djibouti coast.

President Doumbia-Henry Recognized as Remarkable Woman in the Field of Transport. World Maritime University (WMU). 9 April 2021. Available from: https://www.wmu.se/news/president-doumbia-henry-recognized-as-remarkable-woman-in-the-field- of-transport Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University, is featured as a Remarkable Woman in the field of transport for the year 2021 by the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI).

Lloyd’s Register says IMO’s new CO2 calculator penalizes efficiency. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12891367.ece Lloyd’s Register says that it does not yet know what kind of impact the new Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) will have.

Changes of MARPOL Regulation may be needed to facilitate widespread use of biofuels, says IMO. Manifold Times (Singapore). 14 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manifoldtimes.com/news/changes-of-marpol-regulation-may-be-needed-to-facilitate- widespread-use-of-biofuels-says-imo/ Modifications of Regulation 18 under MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships will need to be considered in order to promote more shipowners to adopt biofuels as a bunker fuel, says the Head, Air Pollution and Energy Efficiency at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

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Oldendorff thinks IMO’s carbon calculator is cause for a great deal of confusion. Tomas Kristiansen. ShippingWatch. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/Bulk/article12904261.ece The world’s biggest dry bulk operator, Germany’s Oldendorff, thinks the IMO’s upcoming CO2 regulations for how to measure an individual ship’s efficiency are incoherent, incomprehensible and cause for a great deal of confusion.

Meeting IMO 2030 decarbonisation goals: Lessons from Capital Link. Ilaria Grasso Macola. ShipTechnology. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ship-technology.com/features/meeting- imo-2030-decarbonisation-goals-lessons-capital-link/ The introduction of new requirements set by the International Maritime Organisation to achieve a 40% reduction of C02 emissions were at the centre of Capital Link’s Decarbonisation in Shipping forum.

US envoy John Kerry to back IMO decarbonisation drive. Adam Corbett. TradeWinds. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/regulation/us-envoy-john-kerry-to- back-imo-decarbonisation-drive/2-1-997693 John Kerry, US President Joe Biden’s chief envoy on climate matters, is set to pledge support for the International Maritime Organization’s moves to decarbonise shipping.

BIMCO asks the IMO to improve the ballast water record book Ashok Srinivasan. BIMCO. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bimco.org/news/environment-protection/20210420- ballast-water-record-book Due to conflicting interpretation of the records in the ballast water record book (BWRB) by external parties, ships’ crew are faced with a dilemma when filling out the information in the BWRB. In response to this, BIMCO has co-sponsored a paper for the upcoming 76th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 76) with the aim to improve the existing IMO guidance on the topic.

US will push IMO to adopt target of absolute zero emissions by 2050. Anastassios Adamopoulos. Lloyd’s List. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136527/US-will-push-IMO-to-adopt-target-of- absolute-zero-emissions-by-2050 US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry announces the US wants the International Maritime Organization to adopt a zero emissions target, which means full decarbonisation, and will work to help develop appropriate measures.

Shipping demands market-based measures debate at IMO. Anastassios Adamopoulos. Lloyd’s List. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136525/Shipping-demands-market-based- measures-debate-at-IMO The International Maritime Organization is facing industry pressure to start talks on market-based measures as soon as possible.

US stance on CO2 could radically change the IMO’s climate agenda. Tomas Kristiansen, Daniel Logan and Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12919066.ece Nordic carriers are positively attuned to the announcement from the White House to make the shipping sector CO2-free by 2050, believing it will change the IMO’s agenda, while others are more hesitant.

Americas: World shipping Council calls on US to back IMRB proposal. Rhys Berry. Bunkerspot. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bunkerspot.com/americas/53024-americas-world- shipping-council-calls-on-us-to-back-imrb-proposal World Shipping Council President and CEO John Butler has urged the United States to back the proposed International Maritime Research and Development Board (IMRB) when it is discussed in the upcoming MEPC in June.

Virtual meetings offer silver lining to Covid cloud. Johan Roos. Cruise & Ferry. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/virtual-meetings-offer-silver-lining-to-covid- cloud-1 The pandemic has forced the International Maritime Organization to change its processes, but this has bought vital time in the race to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Bimco and ICS disagree on impact of IMO’s new climate regulation. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12914397.ece Major shipping organizations, including Bimco and ICS, do not agree on the implications of the proposed Carbon Intensity Indicators (CII) to decarbonize shipping.

BIMCO: Discussion on MBMs should be ‘kickstarted at IMO as soon as possible’. Lesley Bankes-Hughes. Bunkerspot. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bunkerspot.com/global/53069-bimco-discussion-on-mbms-should-be-kickstarted-at-imo- as-soon-as-possible ‘We are not suggesting the model for [a market-based measure] because it is a political minefield to have this discussion - the discussion we had earlier at IMO is proof of this and we know the ambition of member states is certainly different from one member state to another – but we need to have this done,’ Lars Robert Pedersen, BIMCO Deputy Secretary General, said during a recent webinar on shipping’s decarbonisation hosted by the London Shipping Law Society.

A global CO2 tax on shipping could be years into the future. Tomas Kristiansen. ShippingWatch. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12941133.ece The first concrete proposal for a global CO2 tax is in the works at the IMO, just as three of the world’s major shipping organizations have turned on a dime and now call for a tax on emissions.

Lookout on the I.M.O. Sailing Up the Clyde to Glasgow. Barry Parker. gCaptain. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://gcaptain.com/lookout-on-the-i-m-o-sailing-up-the-clyde-to-glasgow/ The greening of shipping, as well as other transport modes, is a major theme for the first half of 2021, happily - stealing headlines from 2020’s steady diet of bad news.

LAW & POLICY

World trade primed for strong but uneven recovery after COVID-19 pandemic shock. World Trade Organization (WTO). 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres21_e/pr876_e.htm Prospects for a quick recovery in world trade have improved as merchandise trade expanded more rapidly than expected in the second half of last year.

EU must step up and get sea protection treaty over the line. Isabella Lövin. Euronews. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/31/eu-must-step-up-and-get- sea-protection-treaty-over-the-line-view The past year has shown us the importance of strong leadership in the face of a major crisis.

Shipping hit as US and UK blacklist Myanmar’s military-backed conglomerates. Matt Coyne. TradeWinds. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/law/shipping-hit-as- us-and-uk-blacklist-myanmars-military-backed-conglomerates/2-1-987749 Sanctions have brushed up against shipping again — this time as the US and UK impose further measures against the Myanmar military regime, after a coup in February.

Italy approves new decree to keep cruise ships out of Venice lagoon. Angelo Amante. Reuters. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3p7WUeB Italy’s government has ruled that large cruise ships and container vessels must not pass close to Venice’s historic centre and should instead dock in a different location to preserve the famed lagoon.

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Technical Instructions for a Cruise Ship Operator’s Agreement with Port and Local Health Authorities under CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2 April 2021. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/instructions-local-agreements.html This document provides instructions for Phase 2A of CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for cruise ship operations in U.S. waters to ensure health and safety protections for travellers (crew and future passengers) and port personnel prior to resuming passenger operations in a way that mitigates the risk of spreading COVID-19.

CDC updates guidance to cruise ship industry, urges vaccinations. David Shepardson. Reuters. 3 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3c8PPF4 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention on Friday issued new guidance to the cruise ship industry, including the need for COVID-19 vaccinations, a necessary step before passenger voyages can resume.

Fish eye lenses: UK launches world’s largest ocean monitoring system to protect wildlife and biodiversity. UK Government. 3 April 2021. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fish-eye-lenses-uk-launches-worlds-largest-ocean- monitoring-system-to-protect-wildlife-and-biodiversity The UK will pioneer the world’s largest ocean wildlife monitoring system to help protect life below water as part of the UK Government Blue Belt programme. The Blue Belt programme

Mozambique’s Growing Insurgency May Pose Threat to Shipping. Brian Gicheru Kinyua. Maritime Executive. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://www.maritime- executive.com/article/mozambique-s-growing-insurgency-may-pose-threat-to-shipping The insurgency in Northern Mozambique is steadily morphing into a serious maritime security threat in the Western Indian Ocean.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Submits Plan to CDC and Will Be Ready to Join America’s National Opening. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 5 April 2021. Available from: https://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/norwegian-cruise-line- holdings-ltd-submits-plan-cdc-and-will-be Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. sent a letter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today outlining its plan to resume cruise operations from U.S. ports in July that includes its multi-layered SailSAFE Health and Safety Program developed in conjunction with globally recognized experts, including the Healthy Sail Panel (“HSP”).

Linking ESG performance to the shipping industry. Safety 4 Sea. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://safety4sea.com/cm-linking-esg-performance-to-the-shipping-industry/ The recent trends in sustainability, thus the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, are now impacting the decisions of all maritime stakeholders, along with the emerging contractual and regulatory requirements.

IMF boosts global growth forecast, warns of diverging rebound. Eric Martin. ShippingWatch. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12881300.ece The International Monetary Fund upgraded its global economic growth forecast for the second time in three months, while warning about widening inequality and a divergence between advanced and lesser-developed economies.

Coastal States need to reconsider their responsibilities in granting refuge. TT Club. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ttclub.com/news-and-resources/news/press- releases/2021/coastal-states-need-to-reconsider-their-responsibilities-in--granting-refuge/ In its continued campaign to reduce the risk and consequences of container ship fires, TT Club turns its focus to the plight of fire damaged ships and their often prolonged search for a place of refuge.

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ECA boosts Africa’s readiness for COP26. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.uneca.org/stories/eca-boosts- africa%E2%80%99s-readiness-for-cop26 The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is helping prepare African countries in readiness for the global UN climate change summit (COP26) to be held in Glasgow, UK, later in the year.

Global Travel Taskforce sets out framework to safely reopen international travel. UK Government. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/global-travel- taskforce-sets-out-framework-to-safely-reopen-international-travel Recommendations include the launch of a new traffic light system and ‘green watchlist’, and the introduction of travel certification. Global Travel Taskforce: safe return of international travel

Iran releases seized S. Korean ship, captain. Yonhap News Agency (South Korea). 9 April 2021. Available from: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210409003951325 Iran released a South Korean oil tanker and its captain, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Friday, about three months after they were seized over alleged oil pollution.

Iran releases South Korean ship considering backgrounds: FM spox. Islamic Republic News Agency - IRNA (Iran). 9 April 2021. Available from: https://en.irna.ir/news/84289181/Iran-releases- South-Korean-ship-considering-backgrounds-FM-spox Saeed Khatibzadeh, Spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters on Friday that after finalizing the investigation into violation of regulations by the tanker, an Iranian prosecutor reached the conclusion that the ship can be released at the request of its owner and the Seoul government.

Iran frees S. Korean ship, captain after promise to help with frozen funds. Hyonhee Shin. Reuters. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3fYLfL1 Iran released on Friday a South Korean ship and its captain detained since January after South Korea promised to try to secure the release of Iranian funds frozen in South Korean banks under U.S. sanctions, a South Korean official said.

Sri Lanka seeks $17 million from Greek ship owner over oil spill. France 24. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210409-sri-lanka-seeks-17-million-from- greek-ship-owner-over-oil-spill Sri Lanka on Friday lodged a claim for $17.38 million with the Greek owners of an oil tanker that caught fire and left a spill stretching 40 kilometres (25 miles) off the South Asian island.

Experts lay out their case against carbon pricing. Bruce Lieberman. Yale Climate Connections. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/04/experts-lay-out-their- case-against-carbon-pricing/ The authors of ‘Making Climate Policy Work’ argue that market-based approaches to the problem aren’t working and point to a potential course correction.

Transport Ministry proposes prioritizing Covid-19 vaccination for sailors. Saigon Times (Vietnam). 12 April 2021. Available from: https://en.thesaigontimes.vn/tinbaichitiet/81403/ The Ministry of Transport has written to the Government proposing directing the Ministry of Health to add Vietnamese sailors, navigators and those who work directly with ships to the priority list for the Covid-19 vaccination to facilitate their procedures for vaccine passports and thus make life easier for them to travel to other countries.

First Female President of The Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), Mrs Funke Agbor SAN, Elected. Nigerian Voice. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/297735/first-female-president-of-the-nigerian-maritime-law- associat.html Mrs Funke Agbor SAN has been elected President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA).

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Turkey bans open-loop scrubbers. Adis Ajdin. Splash 247.com. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/turkey-bans-open-loop-scrubbers/ Turkey has become the latest country to ban the use of open-loop scrubbers in its territorial waters.

Turkey, Libya committed to eastern Mediterranean maritime accord. Reuters. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3yQJesJ Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey and Libya were committed to a 2019 maritime demarcation accord in the eastern Mediterranean, after meeting Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh in Ankara.

Turkey proposes ban against the use of open-loop scrubbers. Trine Vestergaard. ShippingWatch. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12897673.ece It should no longer be permitted for ships sailing in Turkey to discharge their open-loop scrubber wash water into the sea.

Clean Shipping Alliance: Wash water discharge is not marine pollution. Clean Shipping Alliance 2020. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.cleanshippingalliance2020.org/latest- news/clean-shipping-alliance-wash-water-discharge-not-marine-pollution The Clean Shipping Alliance expressed disappointment in the 6 April announcement from the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization that they will restrict the discharge of wash water in the territorial waters of the country, based on its marine pollution regulation.

Congress Set to Discuss Maritime Decarbonization. Brody Garland, Mark Ruge, Darrell L. Conner and Elle M. Stuart. National Law Review. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/congress-set-to-discuss-maritime-decarbonization Lawmakers have scheduled their first oversight hearing on the issue of decarbonization in the maritime industry.

Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority impounds Ever Given ship pending $900 million in compensation for blockage losses. Ahram Online (Egypt). 13 April 2021. Available from: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/409138.aspx Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has provisionally impounded the giant Ever Given ship that had blocked the canal for nearly a week as per an Egyptian court’s order pending payment of $900 million in compensation for the losses incurred by the blockage.

Shipping’s billion-dollar coke bust: 8 plead guilty, sentencing begins. Greg Miller. Freight Waves. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shippings- billion-dollar-coke-bust-8-plead-guilty-sentencing-begins Prosecutors called it “the largest cocaine seizure in the 230-year history of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

MSC Gayane Crew Member Sentenced to 5+ Years for Conspiracy to Smuggle $1 Billion Worth of Cocaine into the United State. US Department of Justice. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/msc-gayane-crew-member-sentenced-5-years-conspiracy- smuggle-1-billion-worth-cocaine Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced today that Vladimir Penda, 27, of Montenegro, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison, and two years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Understanding NIMASA’s marine litters and micro plastic action plan. Bashir Jamoh. Guardian (Nigeria). 14 April 2021. Available from: https://guardian.ng/business- services/understanding-nimasas-marine-litters-and-micro-plastic-action-plan/ On February 10, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) launched the Marine Litters and Micro Plastic Action Plan (MLMPAP) to address the issue of plastic wastes that litter the country’s waterways.

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Danish Maritime Authority turns case about Norden’s false logbooks over to the police. Tomas Kristiansen and Dag Holmstad. ShippingWatch. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/Tanker/article12899078.ece The case concerning Norden’s fabricated, false logbooks, aimed at covering up voyages to Israel, has now been turned over to Danish police, informs the Danish Maritime Authority.

Alleged migrant smugglers arrested in Spain. Benjamin Bathke. InfoMigrants. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/31512/alleged-migrant-smugglers-arrested-in- spain Spain’s National Police said Monday (April 12) they arrested 20 alleged human smugglers who were operating through Spain’s Ceuta enclave on the Mediterranean Sea bordering Morocco.

Hearing: “Practical Steps Toward a Carbon-Free Maritime Industry: Updates on Fuels, Ports, and Technology.” United States House of Representatives. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=111423 Statements and testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation (Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure) held Thursday, April 15, 2021.

The EIB and WWF discuss with partners how to advance financing for the sustainable blue economy in the margins of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings. European Investment Bank. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/34AsKXN The European Investment Bank and WWF hosted a conference in the margins of the 2021 virtual Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to discuss how to enhance financing for the sustainable blue economy.

Ex-Italy interior minister Matteo Salvini to be tried for stranding Open Arms migrant rescue ship. Euronews. 18 April 2021. Available from: https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/17/ex-italy- interior-minister-matteo-salvini-to-be-tried-for-stranding-open-arms-migrant-resc Former Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini has been ordered to stand trial for leaving a Spanish migrant rescue ship stranded at sea for more than two weeks in August 2019.

EU move will harm shipping sector’s climate fight. Simon Bennett. China Daily. 19 April 2021. Available from: http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202104/19/WS607ccb27a31024ad0bab6516.html As China’s trading partners contemplate economic recovery in the post-pandemic period, the last thing the world needs are new barriers to trade.

What We Know about Maritime Illicit Trades. Stable Seas. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.stableseas.org/post/design-a-stunning-blog What We Know About Maritime Illicit Trades is the second in a series of reports produced in the Transnational Organized Crime at Sea: New Evidence for Better Responses project.

PH pushes for conservation, sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Philippine Information Agency (PIA). 20 April 2021. Available from: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1072818.amp Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, Maria Angela A. Ponce, reaffirmed the Philippines’ support for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).

UK government sets in law world’s most ambitious target for reducing emissions. UK Chamber of Shipping. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://ukchamberofshipping.com/latest/uk-government-sets-law-worlds-most-ambitious-target- reducing-emissions/ The UK government is to set in law the world’s most ambitious climate change target, cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

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UK government drags shipping into its national climate policy. Adam Corbett. TradeWinds. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/regulation/uk-government-drags- shipping-into-its-national-climate-policy/2-1-998627 The UK has become the first country to include international shipping along with aviation in its national carbon budget under domestic climate laws.

Climate change: UK to speed up target to cut carbon emissions. Roger Harrabin. BBC News. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56807520 Radical new climate change commitments will set the UK on course to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, the UK government has announced.

New Zealand Transport Minister updates HRAS on Seafarer welfare funding legislation. Human Rights at Sea (HRAS). 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/2021/04/20/new-zealand-transport-minister-updates-hras-on- seafarer-welfare-funding-legislation/ The New Zealand Minister of Transport, the Honourable Michael Wood, has confirmed to Human Rights at Sea the forthcoming legislative change to the Maritime Transport Act for long-term and sustainable funding of seafarer’s centres.

UK enshrines new target in law to slash emissions by 78% by 2035. UK Government. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enshrines-new-target-in- law-to-slash-emissions-by-78-by-2035 The UK’s sixth Carbon Budget will incorporate the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions for the first time, to bring the UK more than three-quarters of the way to net zero by 2050.

U.S. to join effort to curb climate-warming emissions from shipping. Valerie Volcovici. Reuters. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3g3C7EG The US will join an international effort to achieve zero emissions by 2050 in the global shipping industry, climate envoy John Kerry announced ahead of a summit of world leaders President Joe Biden will host this week.

EU significantly raises 2030 target for CO2 emissions. Søren Pico. ShippingWatch. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12917889.ece EU negotiators have now reached a preliminary agreement on a new climate target, say officials from the European Parliament and EU countries in a statement.

European climate law: Council and Parliament reach provisional agreement. Council of the European Union. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press- releases/2021/05/05/european-climate-law-council-and-parliament-reach-provisional-agreement/ The Council’s and the European Parliament’s negotiators reached a provisional political agreement setting into law the objective of a climate-neutral EU by 2050, and a collective, net greenhouse gas emissions reduction target (emissions after deduction of removals) of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990.

Propelling Marina from the aft. Yashika F. Torib. Manila Times. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/21/business/maritime-business/propelling-marina-from-the- aft/866047/ Luisito “Lui” Delos Santos - A name that rings familiarity and dependability for those who work for and communicate with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Pacific plan on how to decarbonise global shipping by 2050. Radio New Zealand. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/441019/pacific- plan-on-how-to-decarbonise-global-shipping-by-2050 Climate Envoy John Kerry announced yesterday that the US is committed to getting the global shipping industry to net zero emissions by 2050.

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GMA engages stakeholders on 2012 Cape Town Agreement ahead of ratification. GhanaWeb. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/GMA- engages-stakeholders-on-2012-Cape-Town-Agreement-ahead-of-ratification-1239721 Ghana is expected to in about six months ratify the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which stipulates standards and best practices for fishing at sea, globally.

Biden’s ambitious GHG cuts will target shipping. Kim Biggar. Splash 247.com. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/bidens-ambitious-ghg-cuts-will-target-shipping/ President Joe Biden on Thursday officially announced the new target for the US to achieve a reduction of up to 52% from the 2005 level of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2030.

Battle of the Seas: Cruise Lines vs. the C.D.C. Ceylan Yeginsu. New York Times. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/travel/battle-of-the-seas-cruise-lines-vs-the- cdc.html In the United States, flights are filling up, hotels are getting booked, vacation rentals are selling out and car rental companies are facing a shortage because of spiking demand.

Giant Container Ship Bogged Down Again. This Time By Egyptian Authorities. Jackie Northam. National Public Radio (US). 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/990088429?t=1619435060209 The giant container ship that was stuck in the Suez Canal a few weeks ago is stuck again - hasn’t run aground this time, but has run afoul of Egyptian authorities.

Shipping emissions incorporated into UK’s Carbon Budget for the first time. Ship Management International. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://shipmanagementinternational.com/shipping-emissions-incorporated-into-uks-carbon-budget- for-the-first-time/ The UK’s share of international shipping emissions has been incorporated into the country’s Carbon Budget for the first time as part of a wider effort to cut national emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

US seizes Cameroon-flagged tanker for North Korea sanctions evasion. Michelle Wiese Bockmann. Lloyd’s List. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136600 Legal tactic has also been used to seize crude and refined products cargo on foreign-flagged vessels accused of breaking US sanctions on Venezuela and Iran over the past two years.

European Parliament resolution of 27 April 2021 on technical and operational measures for more efficient and cleaner maritime transport. European Parliament. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0131_EN.html More efficient and cleaner maritime transport.

European Parliament demands move towards low-carbon shipping. Gareth Simkins. ENDS Europe. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.endseurope.com/article/1714300/european-parliament-demands-move-towards-low- carbon-shipping The European Commission must “lead by example” in phasing out maritime emissions, say MEPs, who have called on the executive to support eliminating pollution from ships when in port and restrict sulphurous emissions in EU waters.

Islands and industry say it’s time for a carbon tax. Can Kerry help deliver it? Jimmy Nuake. Splash 247.com. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/islands-and-industry-say-its- time-for-a-carbon-tax-can-kerry-help-deliver-it/ Jimmy Nuake, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development of the Solomon Islands, writes for Splash today demanding more strict 2050 targets for shipping.

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Way cleared for EU coronavirus passports. Danish Shipping. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.danishshipping.dk/en/press/news/way-cleared-for-eu-coronavirus-passports The European Parliament is today voting on a proposal from the European Commission for an EU coronavirus passport.

US cruises could restart soon with ‘passenger voyages by mid-July,’ CDC says. USA Today. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/04/28/cdc-cruises- could-restart-july/4883450001/ Cruising could restart in midsummer in American waters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Wednesday in a letter to the cruise industry that USA TODAY obtained.

MARINE TECHNOLOGY

Scrubber uptake may gain pace on shippers’ move to decarbonize. Surabhi Sahu and Rajesh Nair. S&P Global Platts. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3uLzPQc The use of exhaust gas cleaning systems, also known as scrubbers, on board vessels, is likely to get a leg-up as the global marine fuel sector works through potential solutions to decarbonize, industry sources said.

KR launches online EEXI/CII calculation program. Korean Register (KR). 12 April 2021. Available from: http://www.krs.co.kr/sub/eng_board_read.aspx?s_code=0502070000&b_code=006037000&no=1361 6 Korean Register has developed a web-based EEXI/CII calculation program to help shipping companies comply with the Energy Efficiency Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity (CII) decarbonization regulations which will come into effect in 2023.

Navies’ crewless designs on the future. Dennis O’Neill. Marine Professional (IMarEST). 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.imarest.org/themarineprofessional/on-the- radar/item/6028-navies-crewless-designs-on-the-future Rapid developments in artificial intelligence have convinced leading navies that unmanned surface vessels must be at the heart of their future strategies.

Shell’s maiden trial for hydrogen fuel cell in ships to aid Singapore’s clean fuel ambitions. S&P Global Platts. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/2Tzv1Ao Shell said April 21 it would collaborate on a feasibility study to trial the use of hydrogen fuel cells for ships, the first of its kind for both Shell and in Singapore, paving the way for cleaner and hydrogen-powered shipping.

Fuel cells critical to net-zero emission shipping: Shell’s Henderson. Tom Washington, James Burgess and Surabhi Sahu. S&P Global Platts. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/34AG8ez Grahaeme Henderson, the global head of shipping and maritime at Shell, also reiterated the oil and gas company’s support for LNG as a fuel to meet medium-term climate goals and hydrogen to meet longer-term goals at the Singapore Maritime Technology Conference.

HHI develops AI solution for ship fire safety. Michele Labrut. Seatrade Maritime News. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/technology/hhi-develops-ai- solution-ship-fire-safety Hyundai Heavy Industries Group independently has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based safety management/monitoring system (HiCAMS) and obtained classification and flag Approval-in-Principal (AIP) for the first time in the shipbuilding industry.

MSC rolls out e-Bills of Lading worldwide. Gary Howard. Seatrade Maritime News. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/containers/msc-rolls-out-e-bills-lading-worldwide The use of e-Bills of Lading has the potential to save the maritime industry billions of dollars, according to an estimate by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), as documents are exchanged digitally rather than by costly and slow postal services.

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Shipping turns to digital technology to meet demand for ESG. Max Tingyao Lin. TradeWinds. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/business-focus/shipping-turns-to- digital-technology-to-meet-demand-for-esg/2-1-999316 Growing focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria is driving demand in shipping for digital technologies, according to industry experts.

MARITIME EDUCATION & TRAINING

Digital Learning Lessons Captured. Maritime UK. March 2021. Available from: https://www.maritimeuk.org/documents/938/Maritime_Skills_Commission_Digital_Learning_Report_ March_2021_b6ZG6mk.pdf The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 followed by the national lockdown suddenly challenged the provision of maritime education and training.

Transforming Philippine maritime education. Brenda V. Pimentel. Manila Times. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/07/business/maritime-business/transforming- philippine-maritime-education/860752/ If there is anything which a good majority of the maritime stakeholders would agree on, it would be that maritime education is primarily focused on developing competent seafarers according to international and national standards.

Shifting the balance: insights from the Maritime Skills Commission project on digital learning. Iain Mackinnon. Nautilus International. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3ySUEfH ‘Digital Learning: Captured Lessons’ is the first project report from the Maritime Skills Commission.

MAAP women grads better prepared to thrive in seafaring. Manila Times. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/14/business/maritime-business/maap-women- grads-better-prepared-to-thrive-in-seafaring/863674/ Alumnae of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in Mariveles, Bataan have a greater chance to overcome the challenges in their gender and thrive in the traditionally male-dominated seafaring profession.

Skilled crews are key to shipping’s decarbonisation aims, says Synergy chief. Inderpreet Walia. Lloyd’s List. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136514/Skilled-crews-are-key-to-shippings- decarbonisation-aims-says-Synergy-chief The shipping industry will be reliant on skilled crews to safely manage emerging fuels and technologies, said Mr Unni.

Joint Release by MPA and SMF: MPA and SMF step up efforts for maritime workforce transformation. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore Maritime Foundation. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/media- centre/news-releases/detail/e441e601-6021-466f-a47a-ed4348768534 The announcement was made at the Maritime Manpower Forum, jointly organised by MPA and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), which was held in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week 2021.

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MARITIME SAFETY

‘Did the ship shrink?’ – Red flags raised over Goundar ship registered in Fiji 14 metres shorter than in Canada. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/did-ship-shrink-red-flags-raised-over-goundar-ship- registered-in-fiji-14-metres-shorter-in Fijian authorities are being called to urgently investigate Goundar’s MV Lomaiviti Princess III amid allegations of falsified safety documentation and concerns over passenger and maritime worker safety.

National cyber security centres critical for shipping. Martyn Wingrove. Container Shipping & Trade. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/national-cyber- security-centres-critical-for-shipping-64762 National cyber-security centres could be central to the maritime industry’s defence against online threats to shipping and ports, sharing threat intelligence, assisting in cyber-security implementation and responding to defence breaches.

More Than 65% Of All Ships Are Operating With Systems Containing Asbestos. Hellenic Shipping News. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/more-than-65- of-all-ships-are-operating-with-systems-containing-asbestos/ Despite the introduction ten years ago of regulations prohibiting the use of asbestos materials onboard ship, a significant number of existing and newbuild vessels continue to operate systems and machinery containing the hazardous substance.

HRAS Review of Stowaways. Background, Drivers and Human Consequences. Human Rights at Sea (HRAS). 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/2021/04/08/hras- review-of-stowaways-background-drivers-and-human-consequences/ Human Rights at Sea today publishes a new independent Insight Briefing Note on stowaways looking at the background to incidents at sea, the drivers for individuals to take such risks and the human consequences. Insight Briefing Note

Safety gap threatens transformation. Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen. Splash 247.com. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/safety-gap-threatens-transformation/ At DNV we’ve identified a looming ‘safety gap’ between shipping’s existing safety-risk approach and ambitions for greater digitalisation and the adoption of alternative, more environmentally friendly fuels.

The container ship Ever Given and what hides behind maritime accidents. Cristian Castaño. European Transport Workers’ Federation. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.etf- europe.org/the-container-ship-ever-given-and-what-hides-behind-maritime-accidents/ The blockage of the Suez Canal by the ship Ever Given made global news and highlighted some of the fragile points of global shipping.

MARITIME SECURITY

Iranian ship attacked in the Red Sea. Al Jazeera. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/6/iranian-vessel-attacked-in-the-red-sea-reports The Saviz was targeted by limpet mines in the Red Sea on Tuesday as nuclear talks with world powers are under way in Austria.

Iran cargo ship attacked in Red Sea - Al Arabiya TV. Reuters. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3pabYs6 An Iranian cargo ship has come under attack in the Red Sea, Al Arabiya TV reported on Tuesday, quoting unnamed sources, and semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim said the vessel was targeted by a limpet mine.

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Kenya calls for redrawing of High Risk Area, amid high costs and dwindling Somali piracy. Declan Bush. Lloyd’s List. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136356/ Kenya wants its waters excluded from the Indian Ocean High Risk Area drawn up in response to Somali piracy in 2009.

Iran ship said to be Red Sea troop base off Yemen attacked. Jon Gambrell. Associated Press. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://apnews.com/article/dubai-iran-united-arab-emirates-persian- gulf-tensions-yemen-9c89b8a5571468f1f12be535e8825212 An Iranian ship believed to be a base for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and anchored for years in the Red Sea off Yemen has been attacked, Tehran acknowledged Wednesday.

Armed private security for Dutch merchant vessels on the horizon. SWZ Maritime 7 April 2021. Available from: https://www.swzmaritime.nl/news/2021/04/07/armed-private-security-for-dutch- merchant-vessels-on-the-horizon/ Dutch merchant vessels that sail through the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, but cannot be guarded by Defence, will be allowed to use armed private security as of 1 January.

Robbers target Oldendorff, Melodia and Kyla vessels in Singapore Strait. Jonathan Boonzaier. TradeWinds. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/robbers- target-oldendorff-melodia-and-kyla-vessels-in-singapore-strait/2-1-993821 Vessels belonging to Oldendorff Carriers, Melodia Maritime and Nikolaos Livanos-led Kyla Shipping were targeted by robbers in the Singapore Strait.

Ship owned by Israeli firm attacked off UAE coast: media. Reuters. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3g3XTID A commercial vessel owned by an Israeli firm was attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in Gulf waters, pro-Iran media and an Israeli television channel said on Tuesday.

Alleged Attack Against Israeli Owned Vessel 19.4nm East Fujairah. Dryad Global. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/alleged-attack-against-israeli-owned-vessel- 19.4nm-east-fujairah Unconfirmed media reporting has indicated that the MV HYPERION RAY (IMO9690559), has been involved in an incident off the coast of Fujairah.

Arctic Guardian exercise 2021 underway to test joint emergency marine response. Eilís Quinn. Independent Barents Observer (Norway). 13 April 2021. Available from: https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2021/04/arctic-guardian-exercise-2021-underway-test-joint- emergency-marine-response The Arctic Council and the Arctic Coast Guard Forum launched their Arctic Guardian 2021 exercise on Monday to test the ability of circumpolar countries to respond to marine incidents in the Far North.

Italian Navy Joins Ghana Anti-Piracy Effort in the Gulf of Guinea. Ship & Bunker. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://shipandbunker.com/news/emea/275030-italian-navy-joins-ghana-anti-piracy- effort-in-gulf-of-guinea Crew from the cargo Bergamini-class frigate Luigi Rizzo recently berthed at Tema Port to provide training to 187 soldiers to help bolster efforts to combat rising piracy in the region.

Angry Contships in plea for armed guards after boxship bridge smashed up. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/angry- contships-in-plea-for-armed-guards-after-boxship-bridge-smashed-up/2-1-1001023 The crew of a Contships Management boxship attacked by pirates off Nigeria have thwarted the attack, but the manager is calling for armed guards to be allowed on board to save lives.

Watch as Greek divers recover bag of cocaine from bulker hull. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/bulkers/watch-as-greek-divers- recover-bag-of-cocaine-from-bulker-hull/2-1-1003008 Operator Lydia Mar says it was victim of criminal activity following checks in Brazil and Greece.

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Renewed Onslaught on Maritime Criminals. Eromosele Abiodun. This Day (Nigeria). 30 April 2021. Available from: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/04/30/renewed- onslaught-on-maritime-criminals/ Eromosele Abiodun writes that apart from investment in security assets, partnership with Inter Regional Coordination Centre, Yaoundé, training of cadets to man various security platforms in the Lagos-Bayelsa coastal corridor will boost maritime security and the deep blue project.

MIGRANTS

Dozens of migrants dead after boat capsizes off Djibouti: IOM. Al Jazeera. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/12/34-migrants-dead-after-boat-capsizes- off-djibouti-says-iom IOM’s regional director for East Africa says the migrants involved in the incident were being transported by people smugglers.

‘It’s a day off’: wiretaps show Mediterranean migrants were left to die. Lorenzo Tondo. The Guardian. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/16/wiretaps-migrant-boats-italy-libya-coastguard- mediterranean At 8.18am on Friday 16 June 2017, the Libyan coastguard Col Massoud Abdalsamad received a long-distance phone call from an Italian coastguard official who told him that 10 migrant dinghies were in distress, many in Libyan territorial waters.

UNHCR, IOM: At least 40 People Drown in Shipwreck off Tunisia. International Organization for Migration (IOM). 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.iom.int/news/unhcr-iom-least-40-people- drown-shipwreck-tunisia UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration are deeply saddened by reports of a shipwreck off the coast of Sidi Mansour, in southeast Tunisia, yesterday evening.

Mounting Death Toll in the Central Mediterranean Calls for Urgent Action. International Organization for Migration (IOM). 24 April 2021. Available from: https://www.iom.int/news/mounting- death-toll-central-mediterranean-calls-urgent-action UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are deeply disturbed by reports of a tragic shipwreck off the coast of Libya.

130 migrants are feared dead after their dinghy capsized en route to Europe. France 24. 24 April 2021. Available from: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210424-130-migrants-are- feared-dead-after-their-dinghy-capsized-en-route-to-europe More than 100 Europe-bound migrants are feared dead in a boat wreck off Libya, independent rescue groups and the UN migration agency said, as attempts to cross the Mediterranean increase during the warmer months.

Rescue groups and Pope decry inaction by Italy and Libya as 130 die at sea. Euronews. 25 April 2021. Available from: https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/25/rescue-groups-and-pope- decry-inaction-by-italian-and-libyan-coastguard-as-130-die-at-sea Rescue groups and the Vatican have expressed anguish at the deaths of an estimated 130 migrants whose boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday.

UNHCR and IOM Saddened by Latest Tragedy off Canary Islands. International Organization for Migration (IOM). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.iom.int/news/unhcr-and-iom-saddened- latest-tragedy-canary-islands UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are warning today of the continued increase of refugee and migrant deaths at sea after the latest reports of at least 17 people dying in the North Atlantic while attempting to reach the Canary Islands.

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NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATIONS

Now-resolved Suez Canal blockage shows value of Arctic shipping route, Russia says. Bellona Foundation. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://bellona.org/news/arctic/2021-03-now- resolved-suez-canal-blockage-shows-value-of-arctic-shipping-route-russia-says While hundreds of ship and tankers were blocked from passing through the Suez Canal by a stranded container ship, Russia’s Energy Ministry wasted no time reminding the world of the Northern Sea Route, the 6,000-kilometer sea artery joining Europe and Asia through the Arctic said to lop days off conventional cargo passages.

Traffic Jam on the Suez Canal. NASA. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148114/traffic-jam-on-the-suez-canal One of the world’s most important shipping lanes—the Suez Canal—is reopening this week.

MSC says black carbon, environmental impacts prohibit Arctic passage for cargo. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.msc.com/che/news/2021-april/msc-reaffirms-arctic-commitment?lang=en-gb MSC reaffirms commitment to avoid arctic cargo routes, helping to limit black carbon and other environmental impacts.

Suez Canal may expand southern channel, chairman says. Patrick Werr. Reuters. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3wOdRgF The Suez Canal Authority is considering expanding the southern section of the waterway where the container ship Ever Given became stranded, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Dealing with hard and soft chokepoints. Craig Jallal. Tanker Shipping & Trade. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.rivieramm.com/opinion/dealing-with-hard-and-soft-choke-holds-64922 The accidental blockade of the Suez Canal by the 400 m-long Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS) Ever Given highlights how tanker trades are reliant on traditional chokepoints, but other forms of chokepoints also exist.

Emissions research tracks effects of increased Arctic shipping. Rod Boyce. University of Alaska Fairbanks. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/emissions- research-tracks-effects-increased-arctic-shipping The March blockage of the Suez Canal by a grounded massive cargo ship and the ensuing backlog of more than 300 other vessels brought attention once again to the alternative of shipping through Arctic waters.

Dividends of the space race. Nautilus International. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/telegraph/dividends-of-the-space-race/ Since the first satellite was launched in 1978, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have become indispensable to the shipping industry – not to mention a host of other industries which are reliant on GNSS for position, navigation, or timing applications.

Iran’s ‘rogue armada’ of sanctions-skirting tankers revealed. Michelle Wiese Bockmann. Lloyd’s List. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136511/ Over 100 tankers and gas carriers said to be part of Iran’s “rogue armada” of sanctions-skirting ships have been identified by a US non-government organisation.

Int’l Arctic emergency marine exercise will lead to better response coordination, say participants. Eilís Quinn. Radio Canada International (RCI). 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/2021/04/23/intl-arctic-emergency-marine-exercise-will-lead- to-better-response-coordination-says-participants/ An international marine exercise wound up last week and although the report won’t be out for a while, participants say it’s already provided valuable information for future emergencies.

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Ship traffic dropped during first months of Covid pandemic. University of Exeter (UK). 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/homepage/title_855672_en.html Ship movements on the world’s oceans dropped in the first half of 2020 as Covid-19 restrictions came into force, a new study shows.

PIRACY

Three armed robbery attempts in Singapore Strait, one crew member injured. Sherlyn Sim. Straits Times. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/three-armed- robbery-attempts-in-singapore-strait-one-crew-member-injured Armed intruders boarded three ships in separate incidents in the Singapore Strait in a span of four days last week.

Gulf of Guinea remains world’s piracy hotspot in 2021, according to IMB’s latest figures. ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB). 13 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3yVFrdA The Gulf of Guinea accounted for nearly half (43%) of all reported piracy incidents in the first three months of 2021, according to the latest figures from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Almost half of all pirate attacks take place in Gulf of Guinea. Astrid Sturlason. ShippingWatch. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article12902377.ece The majority of pirate attacks are still happening in the Gulf of Guinea, estimates the IMB with the release of new numbers on attacks that have been reported in 2021.

Greek boxship under pirate attack as crew retreat to citadel. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/containerships/greek-boxship- under-pirate-attack-as-crew-retreat-to-citadel/2-1-1000587 Communications lost during incident involving Contships vessel off Nigeria.

Piracy makes Gulf of Guinea world’s most dangerous shipping route. Al Jazeera. 25 April 2021. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUzBJFQL2Wo The Gulf of Guinea looks set to maintain its notorious status as one of the most dangerous maritime areas in the world because of pirate attacks.

Yaoundé ICC NIMASA Communique. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). 26 April 2021. Available from: https://nimasa.gov.ng/yaounde-icc-nimasa- communique/ The number of attacks/kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea region against merchant vessels is alarming and needs urgent attention.

Nigeria, Cameroon move to counter piracy in Gulf of Guinea. Godwin Oritse. Vanguard (Nigeria). 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/nigeria-cameroon-move-to- counter-piracy-in-gulf-of-guinea/ The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Inter Regional Coordination Centre, ICC, Yaoundé, Cameroon, have formed a partnership to galvanise regional and international efforts to counter the menace of sea pirates and general insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, GOG.

Insurers cover shipowners against threat of ‘modern piracy’. Adam Corbett. TradeWinds. 30 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/business-focus/insurers-cover- shipowners-against-threat-of-modern-piracy-/2-1-999273 New insurance policies are coming into the market to protect fleets from the threat of cyber-attacks.

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PORT STATE CONTROL

Repatriated seamen freed from hotel quarantine after being forced to isolate despite exemption. Beth Murray. The Scotsman. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/repatriated-seamen-freed-from-hotel-quarantine-after-being- forced-to-isolate-despite-exemption-3185049 Two repatriated seamen have been allowed to leave the quarantine hotel at Edinburgh Airport after being forced to check-in, despite being legally exempt according to Scottish government guidance.

Crew change challenge remains, push for global seafarer vaccination programme. Marcus Hand. Seatrade Maritime News. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3wScjlZ “For the maritime sector the most important is crew change, something we’re still challenged with,” Caroline Yang, President of Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) told a media briefing organised by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) ahead of Singapore Maritime Week 2021.

ITF helps in crew change of fatigued tanker captain. Safety4Sea. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://safety4sea.com/itf-helps-in-crew-change-of-fatigued-tanker-captain Recent action by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) led to a successful crew change for a fatigued tanker captain in Tranmere port.

DOTr Maritime Sector assists 1,078 disembarking seafarers of Norwegian vessel. Government of the Philippines. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://dotr.gov.ph/55-dotrnews/3391- dotr-maritime-sector-assists-1-078-disembarking-seafarers-of-norwegian-vessel.html The maritime sector of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), consisting of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), together with the members of the One-Stop Shop (OSS) Port of Manila has assisted the disembarkation of the 1,078 repatriated crew members of MV “Norwegian Encore”.

Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during March 2021. UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-flagged-ships- detained-in-the-uk-during-march-2021 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that six foreign flagged ships remained under detention in UK ports during March 2021 after failing port state control (PSC) inspection.

Industry braced for more challenges with crew change. Marcus Hand. Seatrade Maritime News. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulation/industry-braced-more- challenges-crew-change Ship and crew managers are bracing themselves continued, and possibly even bigger, challenges with crew change as new Covid-19 variants emerge, and infections spike in key seafaring nations.

Fujairah blocks crew changes as Covid-19 surges in India. Irene Ang and Adam Corbett. TradeWinds. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/ship- management/fujairah-blocks-crew-changes-as-covid-19-surges-in-india/2-1-1001070 The Port of Fujairah has joined Singapore in blocking crew changes for seafarers who have travelled from India after a dramatic increase in the country’s Covid-19 infections.

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PORTS & HARBOURS

Northwest Ports of Vancouver, BC, Seattle and Tacoma Aim to Phase Out Maritime Emissions by 2050. Northwest Ports Alliance. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://www.nwseaportalliance.com/newsroom/northwest-ports-vancouver-bc-seattle-and-tacoma- aim-phase-out-maritime-emissions-2050 The Northwest Ports of Vancouver, BC, Seattle, Tacoma, and the combined container operations of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, are jointly committing to a new vision to phase out emissions from seaport-related activities by 2050.

Port of Esbjerg harnesses offshore wind for shore-to-ship power. Adis Ajdin. Splash 247.com. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/port-of-esbjerg-harnesses-offshore-wind-for- shore-to-ship-power/ Denmark’s Port of Esbjerg recently inaugurated its first shore-to-ship power units, which allow docked vessels to run on renewable electricity from offshore wind turbines, instead of using onboard diesel generators.

Digital ports project improves efficiency. Port Strategy. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.portstrategy.com/news101/technology/digital-ports-project-improves-efficiency Five ports in Malaysia will undergo a digital transformation to improve operational efficiency.

The Port of València reduces its carbon footprint by 30%. Port of Valencia. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.valenciaport.com/en/the-port-of-valencia-reduces-its-carbon-footprint- by-30/ Between 2008 and 2019, Valenciaport’s activity has grown by 42%, while CO2 emissions per tonne managed have been reduced by 30%.

Durban port project to create 180 000 jobs. South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). 15 April 2021. Available from: https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/durban-port-project-to-create- 180-000-jobs/ President Cyril Ramaphosa says Transnet will spend R100-billion to modernise the Port of Durban.

Climate emergency boosts ports’ ambition on sustainability. Jack Donnelli. Port Technology International. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/climate- emergency-boosts-ports-ambition-on-sustainability/ In a bid to reach the IMO’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2050, ports and maritime stakeholders around the globe have been making progress on sustainable initiatives to reduce their respective carbon footprint.

Panama Canal Begins Transition to Become Carbon Neutral by 2030. Panama Canal Authority. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.pancanal.com/eng/pr/press- releases/2021/04/26/pr708.html The Panama Canal launched its process of decarbonizing its operations, with aims of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Port of San Diego to Double Shore Power at Cruise Terminals. Port of San Diego. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.portofsandiego.org/press-releases/general-press-releases/port-san- diego-double-shore-power-cruise-terminals The Port of San Diego is doubling shore power capability at its B Street and Broadway Pier cruise ship terminals to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on and around San Diego Bay.

Waterways Are Drying Up Making Navigation Difficult In Key South American Crop-Shipping Ports. Fabiana Batista and Jonathan Gilbert. gCaptain. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://gcaptain.com/south-america-waterways-navigation/ The South American drought that’s helping push Wheat, Corn, and Soybean prices to multiyear highs isn’t just threatening crops, but also the ability to haul them on waterways that are drying up.

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Explosive-laden ‘drone’ boat targets Saudi port of Yanbu. Jon Gambrell and Isabel Debre. Associated Press. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran- persian-gulf-tensions-b1486a6e3d0b48f52eac5d76904999d2 A remotely piloted boat packed with explosives targeted the Saudi port of Yanbu in the Red Sea on Tuesday, the kingdom said, with the blast sending black smoke into the sky off the coast.

ESPO welcomes the European Parliament’s recognition of the strategic role and cross-border dimension of Europe’s ports. European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO). 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.espo.be/news/espo-welcomes-the-european-parliaments-recognition The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the adoption of the own-initiative (INI) report of TRAN-Committee Chair, Karima Delli, on technical and operational measures for more efficient and cleaner maritime transport by the European Parliament.

REGULATIONS

Golden Ocean and Odfjell work towards new CO2 rules, without knowing what they entail. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12886495.ece Although the upcoming climate requirements for shipping still remain unclear, including how to measure the efficiency of a ship, shipping majors such as Odfjell and Golden Ocean are well on their way to prep their fleets for the upcoming regulations, they tell ShippingWatch.

Ship Pollution: NIMASA to Ensure Availability of Sulphur Compliant Fuel. Philip Kyanet. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). 14 April 2021. Available from: https://nimasa.gov.ng/ship-pollution-nimasa-to-ensure-availability-of-sulphur-compliant-fuel/ The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency is determined to ensure availability of marine fuels that comply with the regulation by the International Maritime Organisation limiting the sulphur in the fuel oil used on board ships to 0.50 per cent m/m (mass by mass).

IMO 2020 and IMO 2030 implementation: comparisons and differences from African, Asian and European perspectives. Andre October, Sharmila Naidoo and Lebogang Maragelo. International Bar Association (IBA). 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ibanet.org/article/359ec1b7-570a-4a3f-a936-11b01c6ef757 Since 1 January 2020, ships have had to operate outside designated emission control areas using fuels of 0.5 per cent m/m (mass by mass) sulphur oxide or less, and within emission control areas to 0.1 per cent m/m or less, in order to comply with the regulations set out in Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Stronger enforcement seen as key to accelerate shipping’s decarbonisation. Lloyd’s List. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136590 A tighter regulatory framework was identified as the key to the success of environmentally friendly efforts in shipping by Transport Capital founder Philip Clausius.

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SALVAGE

Golden Ray Wreck Removal Returns to Stubborn ‘Section Seven’ as Operation Drags On. Mike Schuler. gCaptain. 2 April 2021. Available from: https://gcaptain.com/golden-ray-wreck- removal-returns-to-stubborn-section-seven-as-operation-drags-on/ If you want to know how bad the Ever Given situation in the Suez Canal could have got, look no further than the MV Golden Ray in the United States.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration is working on salvaging Eemslift Hendrika. Norwegian Coastal Administration. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.kystverket.no/en/News/eelmlift- hendrika/ There is still a risk that the ship may capsize and pose an environmental hazard.

Cargoship in tow as salvors avert grounding off Norway. Declan Bush. Lloyd’s List. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136374/ The listing Eemslift Hendrika will be towed to safe anchor and stabilised to allow further transport to a port of refuge.

SEAFARERS

For Stranded Sailors, the Covid Crisis Never Ends. Adam Minter. Bloomberg. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-03-31/for-stranded-sailors-the- covid-crisis-never-ends Vaccine rollouts for the world’s seafarers are fraught and unpredictable.

Social Interaction Matters – What works well on board? International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN). 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seafarerswelfare.org/news/2021/social-interaction-matters-what-works-well-on-board To encourage crew members to connect and socialise outside of work, it is important for shipping companies to understand which activities provide the best chance of success on board and why.

The Suez Canal ship is free, but the shipping industry’s ‘humanitarian crisis’ isn’t over. Antonia Noori Farzan. Seattle Times (US). 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/the-suez-canal-ship-is-free-but-the-shipping-industrys- humanitarian-crisis-isnt-over/ For nearly a week, the world was fixated on the spectacle of a mammoth cargo carrier blocking the Suez Canal, causing billions of dollars of damage to the global economy with every passing day.

Extension of validity of STCW certificates issued by Singapore. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/port-of- singapore/circulars-and-notices/detail/51096afd-5041-4d1f-ac9e-dbf1901ce876 This circular supersedes MPA Shipping Circulars No. 06 of 2020 and No. 16 of 2020.

Pandemic Strands 100,000 Merchant Seafarers. Henry Ridgwell. Voice of America. 2 April 2021. Available from: https://www.voanews.com/episode/pandemic-strands-100000-merchant-seafarers- 4644881 Hundreds of thousands of seafarers are stranded across the world because of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘We are not sure when we will get home’: the stranded seafarers who kept world trade afloat during Covid. Dean Kirby. inews (UK). 2 April 2021. Available from: https://inews.co.uk/news/long- reads/stranded-seafarers-who-kept-world-trade-afloat-during-covid-facing-crisis-keyworkers-941391 Hundreds of thousands of hidden keyworkers are still enduring what has been described as a humanitarian crisis as they continue to move essential supplies across the globe.

Wind ... or worse: was pilot error to blame for the Suez blockage? Rose George. The Guardian. 3 April 2021. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/03/wind-or-worse- was-pilot-error-to-blame-for-the-suez-blockage Most marine accidents involve human error, but the real story of how Ever Given came to block global shipping is not so easily explained away.

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Marwa Elselehdar: ‘I was blamed for blocking the Suez Canal’. Joshua Cheetham. BBC News. 4 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56615521 News had broken about a huge container ship, the Ever Given, that had become wedged across the Suez Canal, bringing one of world’s major shipping routes to a halt.

As Suez crisis fades, we must not forget pandemic’s hidden heroes — seafarers. Guy Platten. The Hill (US). 5 April 2021. Available from: https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/546555- as-suez-crisis-fades-we-must-not-forget-pandemics-hidden-heroes Do you remember the Ever Given; the 200,000-ton megaship that ran aground in the Suez Canal and blocked it for a week?

Windstar Cruises’ Belinda Bennett: ‘I refused to be broken’. Michael Juliano. TradeWinds. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/windstar-cruises- belinda-bennett-i-refused-to-be-broken/2-1-987460 The cruise industry’s first female black captain says she had to work twice as hard as the men to get where she is.

Suez Canal block: Ensure Indian crew not harassed, union tells shipping DG. Ch Sushil Rao. Times of India. 7 April 2021. Available from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/suez-canal-block-ensure-indian-crew-not- harassed-union-tells-shipping-dg/articleshow/81938884.cms The All India Seafarers Union, Navi Mumbai has written to the Director General of Shipping expressing concern about the 25 Indian crew still on board ‘Ever Given’, the ship that ran aground in the Suez Canal more than a week ago.

Seafarers and Frontline Maritime Personnel Thanked for Keeping Port of Singapore Open during COVID-19 Pandemic. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 7 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/media-centre/news- releases/detail/4101f992-ec2c-48be-968d-b70d2a9ae323 To thank seafarers, port workers and other frontline maritime personnel for keeping the Port of Singapore open during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), together with PSA Corporation Limited (PSA) and Jurong Port (JP), have commissioned two mural art displays.

Iranian Ship Crew Member Recounts Events before, after Attack. Tasnim News Agency (Iran). 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2021/04/08/2481106/iranian- ship-crew-member-recounts-events-before-after-attack Speaking to Nour News, the crew member said an unknown helicopter was hovering over Saviz ship for about 5 to 10 minutes one day before the incident.

Liberian Registry Introduces New Online Services for Seafarers. Liberian Registry. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.liscr.com/blog/liberian-registry-introduces-new-online-services-seafarers The Liberian Registry announced the unveiling of two new online platforms for seafarers to have easier access for applying for documents and credentials, and for taking Liberian license and upgrade examinations.

Plight of abandoned seafarers is ‘very critical’. Nidaa Bakhsh. Lloyd’s List. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136368/ The crew on board a bulker, which has been abandoned since July 2019, have been on hunger strike for three months as a resolution to their plight has yet to be found.

The LL view: End the scandal of seafarer abandonment, now and forever. Lloyd’s List. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136414 Something is seriously wrong when crews are regularly stranded thousands of miles from home for years on end.

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SAMSA joins University of KwaZulu-Natal for study of Covid-19 pandemic impacts on South African seafarers. South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). 9 April 2021. Available from: https://blog.samsa.org.za/2021/04/09/samsa-joins-university-of-kwazulu-natal-for-study-of-covid-19- pandemic-impacts-on-south-african-seafarers/?amp=1 With more than 133-million people globally infected by the Covid-19 pandemic and close on 3-million of these having succumbed to the virus as of Wednesday this week, the true full impacts of the virus on human society – a full year after its outbreak in Wuhan, China in late 2019 – have yet to be determined.

A pandemic problem no one has solved: Marine workers stuck at sea. Kristen Leigh Painter. Star Tribune (US). 10 April 2021. Available from: https://www.startribune.com/a-pandemic-problem- no-one-has-solved-marine-workers-stuck-at-sea/600044442/ Shipping-industry leaders are scrambling to solve the crisis of thousands of maritime workers who have been stranded because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Essential, invisible: COVID has 200,000 merchant sailors stuck at sea. Taylor Telford and Jacob Bogage. Anchorage Daily News (US). 10 April 2021. Available from: https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2021/04/09/essential-invisible-covid-has-200000-merchant- sailors-stuck-at-sea/ Brian Mossman says he has read “Moby Dick” nearly 200 times.

Seafarers Grateful for Le Havre Support Initiative. Cruise Industry News. 11 April 2021. Available from: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24752-seafarers-grateful-for-le- havre-support-initiative.html Seafarers calling at Port of Le Havre are very appreciative of an initiative started by local associations and private operators providing moral support during their call at Le Havre.

Filipino seafarers included in the priority list of the nat’l COVID-19 vaccination program. Philippine Information Agency (PIA). 12 April 2021. Available from: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1072068.amp Filipino seafarers get a closer shot at getting vaccines against COVID-19 as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases approves the recommendation of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to include them in the priority recipients listed in the government’s national vaccination rollout.

Crew kidnapped from De Poli tanker in Gulf of Guinea released. Matt Coyne. TradeWinds. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/crew-kidnapped-from- de-poli-tanker-in-gulf-of-guinea-released/2-1-995795 The seafarers, abducted off the 19,800-dwt Davide B (built 2016) on 11 March, are free, safe and in good condition given the circumstances, the Dutch company said on Wednesday.

15 kidnapped seafarers from De Poli chemical tanker in Gulf of Guinea are now released. Dag Holmstad. ShippingWatch. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article12903404.ece After a month in captivity, 15 seafarers kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea in mid-March have now been released, informs a spokesperson from De Poli Tankers to ShippingWatch.

Abandoned crew of 14 months desperately plead for supplies off Iranian coast. Human Rights at Sea (HRAS). 15 April 2021. Available from: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/2021/04/15/abandoned-crew-of-14-months-desperately-plead-for- supplies-off-iranian-coast/ Human Rights at Sea has been contacted by the 19 abandoned crew of the Bulk Carrier MV AIZDIHAR (IMO 8906846) flagged to Tanzania anchored of Bander Abbas, Iran, (27°06’32.8″N 56°17’47.6″E) who report that they are rapidly running out of food, water and fuel and are urgently requesting support in their ordeal.

A seafaring future. Michael Grey. Seatrade Maritime News. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/seafaring-future One recurring feature of this pandemic has been the demand that when it is all over, we do not just return to “business as usual”, with earnest exhortations to greater environmental zeal, diversity and inclusion.

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“See the World,” They Said. Erik Kravets. Maritime Executive. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.maritime-executive.com/magazine/see-the-world-they-said A 2018 paper in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics by a four-author team determined that the global average turnaround for a docked ship was 25.5 hours, peaking in South Africa at 64.6 hours and the lowest in East Asia at 17.2 hours.

10 freed Pinoy seafarers kidnapped in Gulf of Guinea to arrive April 19. ABS-CBN (Philippines). 16 April 2021. Available from: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/16/21/10-freed-pinoy-seafarers- kidnapped-in-gulf-of-guinea-to-arrive-april-19 A total of 10 Filipino seafarers freed from a reported kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea are expected to arrive in the Philippines on April 19, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced.

Telangana: Ever Given manager helping 2 seafarers get home. Ch Sushil Rao. Times of India. 17 April 2021. Available from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ever-given- manager-helping-2-seafarers-get-home/articleshow/82108787.cms The authorities granted permission based on the recommendation of the ship owner who reportedly informed that the two seafarers had some personal emergency back home.

Ever Given crew fear joining ranks of seafarers stranded on ships for years. Ruth Michaelson. The Guardian. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/19/ever-given-crew-fear-joining-ranks-of- seafarers-stranded-on-ships-for-years Suez vessel’s crew said to be ‘relaxed but apprehensive’, while 50 miles away a cautionary tale plays out on another ship.

Jamaica Has Facilitated The Repatriation Of Over 3,700 Seafarers Since The Start Of COVID-19. Peta-Gay Hodges. Jamaica Information Service. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-has-facilitated-the-repatriation-of-over-3700-seafarers-since-the-start-of- covid-19/ Jamaica has facilitated repatriation and crew changes for more than 3,700 seafarers since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, through a successful inter-agency effort.

Seafarer found dead on CM Lemos capesize as 10 crew test positive in Crete. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/seafarer- found-dead-on-cm-lemos-capesize-as-10-crew-test-positive-in-crete/2-1-997703 A Greek bulker has been quarantined in Crete after a crewman was found dead in his cabin, while 10 others later tested positive for Covid-19.

PH Embassy closely monitors probe on death of Filipino seafarer in Vanuatu. Roy Mabasa. Manila Bulletin. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/19/ph-embassy-closely- monitors-probe-on-death-of-filipino-seafarer-in-vanuatu/ The Philippine Embassy in Australia is closely monitoring the investigation into the death of a 63-year-old Filipino crew member who was found dead at a beach in Vanuatu, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

NZ Seafarers Are Essential. Scoop (New Zealand). 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2104/S00139/nz-seafarers-are-essential.htm Kiwi Seafarers working internationally have been forgotten by the New Zealand government, their request for support keeps being ignored and their status as essential workers continues to be overlooked.

ITF confirms Ever Given crew welfare, but Egypt cannot hold Suez seafarers hostage. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/itf-confirms-ever-given-crew-welfare-egypt-cannot-hold-suez- seafarers-hostage Representatives of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Sunday boarded the MV Ever Given (IMO: 9811000) to check on the health and welfare of the crew.

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Seafarers’ Union Warns of Total Shutdown to Canadian Shipping Industry, if Vaccination Plan is not Developed Immediately. Seafarers’ International Union of Canada. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seafarers.ca/seafarers-union-warns-of-total-shutdown-to-canadian- shipping-industry-if-vaccination-plan-is-not-developed-immediately/ The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) is demanding a meeting with the federal Minister of Health and an immediate action plan to vaccinate Canadian seafarers’ against COVID-19 or risk a total stoppage to the Canadian shipping industry.

Filipino seafarers abducted from chemical tanker off Benin return home. Adis Ajdin. Splash 247.com. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/filipino-seafarers-abducted- from-chemical-tanker-off-benin-return-home/ Ten Filipino seafarers who were abducted from De Poli Tankers’ vessel Davide B off the coast of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea on March 11 have arrived home.

Indian crew aboard Ever Given receive visitors for first time since ship refloating. Ch Sushil Rao. Times of India. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/indian-crew-aboard-ever-given-receive-visitors- for-first-time-since-ship-refloating/articleshow/82152249.cms General secretary and treasurer of Mumbai-based National Union of Indian Seafarers (Nusi) said the visit to Ever Given, now stationed at Lake of Great Distress, was facilitated by the London-based International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).

IMO and HRAS speak to the BBC about Seafarer Abandonment. Human Rights at Sea (HRAS). 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/2021/04/21/imo-and-hras-speak- to-the-bbc-about-seafarer-abandonment/ Mr Frederick Kenney, Director of the IMO Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, and David Hammond, CEO, HRAS, answered searching questions with the aim of bringing increased understanding to the Scottish audience.

Stranded Pakistani seafarer to return home from UAE after four years. Daily Times (Pakistan). 22 April 2021. Available from: https://dailytimes.com.pk/748151/ Seafarers including one Pakistani stranded at the port of Ummul Quwein, UAE, will be repatriated back to their homes after four years.

Seafarer Mohammad Aisha is going home thanks to ITF, ending four years on abandoned ship. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/seafarer-mohammad-aisha-going-home-thanks-itf-ending-four- years-abandoned-ship Seafarer Mohammad Aisha is tonight boarding an airplane to return to his native Syria, ending a four-year battle where he was forced to live on an abandoned ship in the Suez Canal while the vessel waited to be sold.

Stranded sailor allowed to leave abandoned ship after four years. Paul Adams. BBC News. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56842506 Today, after spending almost four years on board stranded off the Egyptian coast, he was freed and flown home to Syria.

Three Indian mariners fight for respect on the high seas. Michael Juliano. TradeWinds. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/insight/three-indian-mariners-fight- for-respect-on-the-high-seas/2-1-997237 Sharvani Mishra says a shipping company refused to take her back after she reported a sexual-assault attempt at sea.

More than 200,000 seafarers stranded due to Covid-19 pandemic: International Maritime Organisation. Clement Yong. Straits Times. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-200000-seafarers-stranded-shipping-needs- digitalisation-international-maritime More than 200,000 seafarers worldwide are either still stranded on ships or waiting to board them as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kitack Lim said on Friday (April 23).

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Shipping condemns travel bans for undermining seafarers’ rights. Declan Bush. Lloyd’s List. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136574 Shipping groups have condemned states for claiming to support seafarers’ rights under the Maritime Labour Convention, while continuing to bar them entry because of new waves of coronavirus infections.

How shipping firms ought to focus on crews’ wellbeing. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/how-shipping-firms-ought-to-focus-on-crews- wellbeing/ The mental and physical wellbeing of crewmembers at sea and on dry land should be one of the key priorities for shipping companies amid the Coronavirus pandemic, according to Mark O’Neil, president of InterManager and CEO of Columbia Shipmanagement.

Onboard connectivity critical for crew welfare, reveals latest Seafarers Happiness Index. Mission to Seafarers. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/news/onboard-connectivity-critical-for-crew-welfare-reveals- latest-seafarers-happiness-index Report from The Mission to Seafarers highlights progress on connectivity, but concern over working hours, crew changes and vaccine access. Seafarers Happiness Index Quarter 1 2021: Special Covid-19 edition

ILO approves Cyprus resolution calling for the COVID-19 inoculation of seafarers. Cyprus News Agency. 26 April 2021. Available from: http://www.cna.org.cy/WebNews- en.aspx?a=527f50810ac04b659da1fb1379b5c331 A resolution submitted by the Government of Cyprus to the International Labour Organisation, calling for the inoculation against COVID-19 of seafarers in their country of residence was approved by the ILO.

Resolution concerning COVID-19 vaccination for seafarers. International Labour Organization (ILO). 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/--- ed_norm/---normes/documents/genericdocument/wcms_782880.pdf The Special Tripartite Committee established by the Governing Body of the ILO under Article XIII of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006), on the occasion of the first part of its fourth meeting, which took place virtually from 19-23 April 2021…,

Legal and practical guidance published for the hundreds of seafarers abandoned across the globe. Human Rights at Sea (HRAS). 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/2021/04/27/legal-and-practical-guidance-published-for-the- hundreds-of-seafarers-abandoned-across-the-globe/ Charity Human Rights at Sea has partnered with global law firm Reed Smith to help tackle the growing problem known as seafarer abandonment; an issue that has seen cases rise dramatically over the last 12 months. Abandonment of Seafarers: Background, Legal Status, Remedies & Practical Advice

After nearly 4 years stranded on cargo ship in Egypt, a Syrian crew member finally goes home. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.6002269/after-nearly-4-years- stranded-on-cargo-ship-in-egypt-a-syrian-crew-member-finally-goes-home-1.6002473 Legal dispute left Mohammad Aisha stuck aboard the MV Aman; his crewmates were allowed to leave in 2019.

India’s Seafarers Face New Challenges as Outbreak Grows at Home. Ankur Kundu. Maritime Executive. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/india- s-seafarers-face-new-challenges-as-outbreak-grows-at-home Seafarers with recent travel history to India have been banned from undergoing crew change in Singapore.

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Ship-owners seek vaccinated crew as Covid cases surge in India. P. Manoj. Hindu BusinessLine (India). 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/ship-owners-seek-vaccinated-crew-as- covid-cases-surge-in-india/article34432898.ece Concerns over availability of vaccines and waiting time are adding to the job uncertainty of seafarers.

Shipowners’ pay cut demands a ‘slap in the face’ for seafarers. Nautilus International. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/2RgkCJa Nautilus International has condemned the refusal of shipowners to approve a standard pay uplift for seafarers as ‘disgraceful’.

‘A total own goal’: Shipowners’ wage cuts plan a slap in the face for pandemic heroes. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/total-own-goal-shipowners-wage-cuts-plan-slap-in-face-pandemic- heroes The world’s seafarers yesterday took the extraordinary decision to shut down negotiations over the future of seafarers’ minimum wages with national shipowners represented by the International Chamber of Shipping.

Shipping ignores the human element at its peril. Richard Clayton. Lloyd’s List. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136617 The Covid pandemic has shifted the emphasis back onto people working at sea and on shore.

The ILO calls for full respect of seafarers’ rights and for the vaccination of seafarers. International Labour Organization (ILO). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_785244/lang--en/index.htm Seafarers need COVID-19 vaccinations, wherever they are, to avoid delays and disruption in supply chains.

Crewing crisis looms as vaccine rollout stalls. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 29 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/crewing-crisis-looms-as-vaccine-rollout-stalls/ A resolution for a global seafarers vaccination program proposed by the Cyprus shipping deputy ministry (SDM) has been officially adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

SEARCH & RESCUE

Coast Guard recovers 1 unresponsive, continues searching for 12 missing people from capsized vessel 8 miles south of Port Fourchon. United States Coast Guard. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/2ccf3a6 The Coast Guard recovered one unresponsive person and continues to search for 12 missing people, Wednesday from a capsized commercial lift boat 8 miles south of Port Fourchon.

Italian coast guard rescues 100 people from stranded fishing boat. Benjamin Bathke. InfoMigrants. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/31782/italian- coast-guard-rescues-100-people-from-stranded-fishing-boat The Italian coast guard has helped an overcrowded fishing boat off Italy that was struggling in high waves and strong winds.

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SHIP RECYCLING

Fresh move made to stop toxic ships. Mostafa Yousuf. Daily Star (Bangladesh). 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/fresh-move-made-stop-toxic-ships- 2072717 Two ministries which regulate the shipbreaking industry decided earlier this year to make an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) mandatory for shipbreakers, in phases, to stop toxic vessels sailing into Bangladesh.

Despite the pandemic, Alang beached 187 ships for recycling. P. Manoj. Hindu BusinessLine (India). 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/despite-the-pandemic-alang-beached-187- ships-for-recycling/article34265432.ece Working plots at Alang-Sosiya are certified for compliance with green recycling standards.

Oxygen diverted for Covid fight, work at industries come to a grinding halt. Avinash Nair and Aditi Raja. Indian Express. 17 April 2021. Available from: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/oxygen-diverted-for-covid-fight-work-at- industries-come-to-grinding-halt-7277053/ Alang consumes 70-100 tonne of oxygen on a daily basis and most of it is sourced from Shree Ram Group in Bhavnagar, Reliance Industries in Jamnagar and Inox in Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions joins the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative. Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI). 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.shiprecyclingtransparency.org/swiss-re-corporate-solutions-press-release/ Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the commercial insurance arm of the Swiss Re Group, announced today that it has signed up to the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI).

Danish minister regrets carriers’ and Maersk’s need to scrap vessels outside EU. Dag Holmstad. ShippingWatch. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12923695.ece Capacity at the EU-approved recycling yards only sits a 40 percent utilization, while ships are being recycled on beaches in India under poor conditions for both the environment and employees.

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #25. NGO Shipbreaking Platform. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://shipbreakingplatform.org/platform-publishes-south-asia-quarterly-update-25/ In this quarterly publication, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform informs about the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. South Asia Quarterly Update #25

SHIPBUILDING & SHIPREPAIR

Simplicity and safety: why rotor sails make sense. Joe Baker. Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content- hub/simplicity-and-safety-why-rotor-sails-make-sense-64698 Wind propulsion can be a long-term solution in the battle to reduce carbon intensity, writes Anemoi mechanical engineer Joe Baker.

Korea Shipbuilding wins 566 bln won in orders for 7 ships. Nam Kwang-sik. Yonhap News Agency (South Korea). 1 April 2021. Available from: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210401004000320 Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (KSOE) said Thursday it has signed deals worth 566 billion won (US$502 million) with companies from Asia, Europe and Africa to build seven ships.

Next-gen ships to dwarf ‘Ever Given’. Hellenic Shipping News. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/next-gen-ships-to-dwarf-ever-given/ If you think the ultimate reason the Suez Canal got blocked last week is because container ships are getting too big, get ready for the future.

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New materials to make ships more sustainable and less noisy for marine life. Sandrine Ceurstemont. HORIZON - the EU Research & Innovation Magazine. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/new-materials-make-ships-more-sustainable- and-less-noisy-marine-life.html Ships have a significant environmental impact during building, operation and when they’re scrapped, but new approaches and composite materials to replace steel – still popular due to its strength and low cost – could make vessels more sustainable, recyclable, and less noisy for marine animals.

Trafigura, MAN Energy Solutions to make ammonia engines for ships. Richard Ewing. Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS). 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2021/04/16/10629207/trafigura-man-energy-solutions- to-make-ammonia-engines-for-ships Global commodity trading major Trafigura Group on Thursday announced it will co-sponsor the development of MAN Energy Solutions’ ammonia-fuelled engine for maritime vessels.

Newbuilding Orders Are Booming, Reaching 13-year Highs. Nikos Roussanoglou. Hellenic Shipping News. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/newbuilding- orders-are-booming-reaching-13-year-highs/ A rapidly improving sentiment among owners has prompted the most active first quarter of the last 13 years, when it comes to newbuilding orders.

Will battery-powered ships take over the industry? Frankie Youd. ShipTechnology. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ship-technology.com/features/will-battery-powered-ships-take-over-the- industry/ A new 60m-long tanker, named the e5, is the first of its kind to be powered solely by lithium-ion batteries.

Ever Given’s big warning for shipping. Andy Teasdale and Charlie Bartlett. Marine Professional (IMarEST). 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.imarest.org/themarineprofessional/the-long-read/item/6035-ever-given-s-big-warning-for- the-shipping-industry As cargo vessels get bigger and bigger, economies of scale need to be balanced against increased risks to design and operation.

Long-Term Test of Rotor Sail on Passenger Ferry Completed. Maritime Executive. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/long-term-test-of-rotor- sail-on-passenger-ferry-completed The first long-term test of a rotor sail fitted on a passenger ferry is coming to an end after three years aboard Viking Line’s Viking Grace.

S. Korea to spend 36 bln won to build test bed for green ships. Kang Yoon-seung. Yonhap News Agency (South Korea). 28 April 2021. Available from: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210428003300320?section=news South Korea said Wednesday it plans to invest 36.4 billion won (US$32.3 million) to build a new test bed to speed up the development of carbon-neutral ships.

SHIPPING

The Suez Canal blockage – lessons to be learned. Rahul Khanna. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.agcs.allianz.com/news-and-insights/expert- risk-articles/suez-canal-lessons-learned.html Insurers have been warning for years that the increasing size of vessels is leading to a higher accumulation of risk when something goes wrong.

The Andy Warhol moment. Andrew Craig-Bennett. Splash 247.com. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/the-andy-warhol-moment/ Splash’s chief opinion writer, Andrew Craig-Bennett, reflects on shipping’s 15 minutes of fame.

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Why the ferry’s industry’s pandemic response fuels hopes for future. Mike Corrigan. Cruise & Ferry. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/why-the- ferrys-industrys-pandemic-response-fuels-hopes-for-future Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan suggests that the global trade association and its members can draw some comfort from the evolving reactions to unprecedented challenges.

Is carbon capture the solution shipping has been waiting for? Nidaa Bakhsh. Lloyd’s List. 31 March 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136169/ Carbon capture could be a speedier solution for the shipping industry to cut greenhouse gas emissions while alternative fuels are being developed.

Never let a good crisis go to waste. Neville Smith. Splash 247.com. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/never-let-a-good-crisis-go-to-waste/ For lots of people the week that Ever Given spent stuck in Suez was just that, an opportunity to speak, to spout, opine and editorialise.

It took the Suez Canal crisis to highlight the scale of the polluting shipping sector. Madeline Rose. Climate Home News. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/04/01/took-suez-canal-crisis-highlight-scale-polluting- shipping-sector/ The growing global shipping fleet is increasing the sector’s climate and environmental impacts.

Shipping Costs Add to Near-Term Global Inflationary Pressures. Fitch Ratings. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/shipping-costs-add-to-near-term- global-inflationary-pressures-01-04-2021 Supply-chain bottlenecks in global shipping and semiconductor markets are adding to near-term pressures on inflation, amplifying the impact of higher commodity prices and base effects from price falls in spring last year, says Fitch Ratings in its latest Economics Dashboard.

Italy may be in Easter lockdown, but the party’s on at sea. Maria Grazia Murru. Associated Press. 2 April 2021. Available from: https://apnews.com/article/italy-easter-lockdown- cruise-ships-64294f5587f6ee286884d5182696bd7d In one of the anomalies of lockdowns that have shuttered hotels and resorts around the world, the Grandiosa has been plying the Mediterranean this winter with seven-night cruises, a lonely flag-bearer of the global cruise industry.

Overcoming the EEXI challenge for LNG carriers. DNV GL. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://www.dnv.com/expert-story/maritime-impact/Overcoming-the-EEXI-challenge-for-LNG- carriers.html Under the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) regime, LNG carriers will be assigned a reference line of their own because of certain properties that would otherwise put them at a severe disadvantage.

Fact Check-Suez Canal-blocking ship was not trafficking people or raided by Navy SEALs. Reuters. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://reut.rs/3fCF8wI Social media users have been sharing articles which claim that dead bodies, trafficked children and weapons were found by the U.S. Navy SEALs, a special operations force, on the Ever Given container ship that was stranded in Egypt’s Suez Canal for almost a week.

CMA CGM launches the first low-carbon shipping offer by choosing biomethane. CMA CGM. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://cmacgm-group.com/en/news-media/CMA-CGM-launches-the- first-low-carbon-shipping-offer-by-choosing-biomethane Ahead of the UN Global Compact and as part of the first high-level preparatory talks for the COP26 summit, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, has put forward solutions that are immediately available and that contribute to achieving the Group’s objective of being carbon-neutral by 2050.

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Dutch firm markets ‘one-way’ containers. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/dutch-firm-markets-one-way-containers/ Some 20m ocean containers move across the planet, carrying freight to every corner of the globe.

Stena Bulk unveils decarbonisation plan to become net zero emissions business by 2050. Stena Bulk. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.stenabulk.com/press-and-news/press- releases/stena-bulk-unveils-decarbonisation-plan-become-net-zero-business-2050 Leading tanker shipping company Stena Bulk has today announced a set of five dated decarbonisation targets which form a comprehensive roadmap for the company to become a net zero business by 2050.

Make the UK an international seafarer vaccination hub, urge Nautilus and UK Chamber of Shipping. Nautilus International. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3vACb5v Nautilus International and the UK Chamber of Shipping have urged Maritime Minister Robert Courts MP to support establishing the UK as an international seafarer vaccination hub, where seafarers of all nationalities can access Covid-19 vaccines while their vessels are in ports around the UK.

COVID-19 Impact on Shipping Report. European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). 9 April 2021. Available from: http://www.emsa.europa.eu/newsroom/covid19-impact/download/6548/4375/23.html The on-going global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having an impact on global shipping, affecting all shipping sectors from passenger ships to container ships and oil tankers.

Camilla is what the shipping world wants to attract more of. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article12891266.ece Camilla Vambeseth is third mate on a chemical tanker and believes that the environment on board would benefit from more women at sea.

Europe’s shipowners call for fair and ambitious carbon pricing proposal in ‘crunch time’ for the EU. Sam Hargreaves. Transport & Environment. 9 April 2021. Available from: https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/europe%E2%80%99s-shipowners-call-fair-and- ambitious-carbon-pricing-proposal-%E2%80%98crunch-time%E2%80%99-eu An alliance of Greek and Swedish shipowners, along with Transport & Environment (T&E), has called on the European Commission to put the ‘polluter pays principle’ at the core of its emissions trading system (ETS) proposal. Letter to the Commission

Unexpected alliance between shipowners and NGO wants expanded EU CO2 quota system. Dag Holmstad. ShippingWatch. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12895457.ece An unexpected alliance between Greek shipowners and an environmental NGO wants EU’s CO2 quota system ETS to be more far-reaching.

Singapore Maritime Week 2021: Pushing New Frontiers in Resilience, Digitalisation, Decarbonisation and Talent. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/media-centre/news- releases/detail/4cc1a704-6a5b-42a5-859e-6d4aacabb4cd The 15th Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2021 will be held from 19 to 23 April 2021.

Tentative Bunker-Industry Confidence After COVID-19 Crisis: IBIA Conference. Ship & Bunker. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://shipandbunker.com/news/world/378132-tentative-bunker- industry-confidence-after-covid-19-crisis-ibia-conference The bunker industry is starting to raise its hopes for a more successful 2021 after the nadir of last year’s COVID-19 crisis, according to panelists at this week’s IBIA conference.

Coronavirus pandemic triggers shipping container crisis. Dirk Kaufmann. Deutsche Welle (Germany). 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus- pandemic-triggers-shipping-container-crisis/a-57162384 Most goods are transported around the globe by ship, making overseas containers essential.

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In need of a sea change. Mikael Wideskog and Kaj Portin. Hydrocarbon Engineering. 12 April 2021. Available from: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/special-reports/12042021/in-need-of-a- sea-change/ The maritime industry is undergoing a historic period of adjustment.

Hydrogen: The Key to Decarbonizing the Global Shipping Industry? William Alan Reinsch and Will O’Neil. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.csis.org/analysis/hydrogen-key-decarbonizing-global-shipping-industry Maritime shipping accounts for approximately one-quarter of all emissions from the global transportation sector.

Language changes in job postings to attract more women at Odfjell. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article12896975.ece Chemical tanker carrier Odfjell has found that easy-to-miss details in job postings can be crucial in getting more women to apply.

Ship management firm predicts growing political pressure to achieve climate goals before 2050. Jens Thomsen. ShippingWatch. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article12901163.ece The shipping industry would be frivolous to believe it has another 30 years to halve CO2 emissions.

Shipping green fuel levy faces opposition from developing nations. Anastassios Adamopoulos. Lloyd’s List. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136468/ After the proposal gained support from major shipping nations, developing countries have hit back, officially objecting to a mandatory levy based on fuel consumption.

The U.S. Can Help Eliminate Fossil Fuels from the Shipping Industry by 2035, New Report. Pacific Environment and Ocean Conservancy. 14 April 2021. Available from: https://www.pacificenvironment.org/press-releases/the-u-s-can-help-eliminate-fossil-fuels-from-the- shipping-industry-by-2035-new-report/ A new report details how the Biden-Harris administration can address climate change and environmental injustices by completely eliminating emissions from the shipping industry in the next fifteen years. ALL ABOARD: How the Biden-Harris Administration Can Help Ships Kick Fossil Fuels

Heineken Seeks Carbon-Neutral Beer Shipments by 2040. Ship & Bunker. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://shipandbunker.com/news/world/282326-heineken-seeks-carbon-neutral-beer- shipments-by-2040 Global brewer Heineken will be in the market for carbon-neutral ships to transport its beer as soon as 2040, significantly ahead of IMO decarbonisation targets.

BHP, Oldendorff and GoodFuels successfully complete first trial with sustainable biofuel supplied in Singapore. BHP. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3gmdtiZ Global resources company BHP, German shipping company Oldendorff Carriers, and advanced biofuels pioneer GoodFuels, with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), conducted the first marine biofuel trial involving an ocean-going vessel bunkered in Singapore on 4 April 2021.

Ever Given Customers Face New Payments to Get Shipments Moving. Hellenic Shipping News. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ever-given-customers-face- new-payments-to-get-shipments-moving/ The legal quagmire that has kept the Ever Given anchored in the Suez Canal is tying down thousands of containers holding cargo whose owners now face new payments and complications to get their long-delayed shipments.

Wärtsilä thinks hydrogen will only play a “niche role” in shipping. Astrid Sturlason. ShippingWatch. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/suppliers/article12902617.ece Finnish engine manufacturer Wärtsilä does not see great potential in hydrogen as one of the shipping industry’s future fuels, says Juha Kytölä, director of R&D and engineering at Wärtsilä, in an interview with ShippingWatch.

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Ever Given casualty places crisis communications under the spotlight. Jane Porter. Lloyd’s List. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136466 When a major shipping casualty occurs that attracts the attention of the mainstream media and general public, top executives from the key companies involved should be prepared to personally comment, and appear on television or radio, rather than rely on press releases in this era of rolling news and social media, in order to show leadership to the outside world.

$3.4trn investment to modernise fleet by 2050, says Stopford. Anastassios Adamopoulos. Lloyd’s List. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136483/34 The rough estimate from the renowned shipping economist comes as he warns that ships built before 2020 could account for around 50% of all emissions form today until 2050 and that collaboration between owners and charterers will be necessary to get the money in.

New World Bank Research Finds Major Opportunities in Decarbonizing Maritime Transport. World Bank. 15 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3wMhx2v The World Bank today published new research on decarbonizing the maritime transport sector with findings that indicate significant business and development opportunities for countries, including for developing and emerging economies. The Role of LNG in the Transition Toward Low- and Zero-Carbon Shipping Summary for Policymakers and Industry

The Potential of Zero-Carbon Bunker Fuels in Developing Countries. Dominik Englert, Andrew Losos, Carlo Raucci and Tristan Smith. World Bank. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35437 To meet the climate targets set forth in the International Maritime Organization’s Initial GHG Strategy, the maritime transport sector needs to abandon the use of fossil-based bunker fuels and turn toward zero-carbon alternatives which emit zero or at most very low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout their lifecycles. Report

SEA-LNG: Independent study confirms LNG reduces shipping GHG emissions by 23%. Manifold Times (Singapore). 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manifoldtimes.com/news/sea-lng-independent-study-confirms-lng-reduces-shipping-ghg- emissions-by-23/ Global multi-sector industry coalition SEA-LNG on Thursday (25 February) said an independent study has reconfirmed greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of up to 23% are achievable now from using liquified natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, depending on the marine technology employed.

SMTC 2021: Political will and time the missing components from shipping’s transition away from fossil fuels. Manifold Times (Singapore). 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manifoldtimes.com/news/smtc-2021-political-will-and-time-the-missing-components- from-shippings-transition-away-from-fossil-fuels/ The following interview arranged by Informa Connect is part of pre-event coverage for the upcoming Singapore Maritime Technology Conference 2021 (SMTC 2021), where Manifold Times is an official media partner.

WISTA Norway president calls on men to pitch in for gender equality. Bob Rust. TradeWinds. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/people/wista-norway-president- calls-on-men-to-pitch-in-for-gender-equality/2-1-993735 WISTA Norway wants to be a resource for shipping companies that claim they cannot find women to fill job vacancies.

World Bank rejects LNG as usable fuel to reach climate goal by 2050. Dag Holmstad. ShippingWatch. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12907966.ece In a new statement, the World Bank rejects liquefied natural gas, LNG, as a usable ship fuel to reduce CO2 emissions in shipping and meet the IMO’s climate targets by 2050.

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The Potential of Zero-Carbon Bunker Fuels in Developing Countries. Dominik Englert, Andrew Losos, Carlo Raucci and Tristan Smith. World Bank. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35435 To meet the climate targets set forth in the International Maritime Organization’s Initial GHG Strategy, the maritime transport sector needs to abandon the use of fossil-based bunker fuels and turn toward zero-carbon alternatives which emit zero or at most very low greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycles. Report

Shipping majors bet on different paths in decarbonizing shipping. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 16 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12904731.ece Hydrogen, LNG, ammonia, electricity and then there is methanol and LPG – the bids are many and so are the answers when you ask big shipping companies such as Maersk, Ardmore, Exmar and Shell about the fuel solution of the future.

IMO 2030 compliance becoming more of capex issue than technical for shipowners. David Glass. Seatrade Maritime News. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seatrade- maritime.com/environmental/imo-2030-compliance-becoming-more-capex-issue-technical- shipowners With the IMO 2030 and 2050 targets for CO2 reduction, coupled with rising fuel prices in the wake of the 2020 global sulphur cap, decarbonisation is becoming more of a capex issue than a technical one.

Industry collaboration to develop guidance on the safe use of Ammonia as a fuel. Lloyd’s Register. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://www.lr.org/en/latest-news/industry-leaders- collaborate-to-develop-guidance-on-the-safe-use-of-ammonia-as-a-shipping-fuel/ The Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping have joined forces in a new project to develop guidance around he safe use of Ammonia as a fuel to support the shipping industry’s drive towards a decarbonised future.

SMW 2021: Singapore Launches Two-Month Consultation on Decarbonisation. Ship & Bunker. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://shipandbunker.com/news/apac/538516-smw-2021-singapore- launches-two-month-consultation-on-decarbonisation Singapore’s government is seeking suggestions for how it should address decarbonisation in the run-up to 2050.

The shipping industry needs to move in line with the Paris Agreement. Janis Searles Jones. The Hill (US). 19 April 2021. Available from: https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/548926- the-shipping-industry-needs-to-move-in-line-with-the-paris With his administration set to announce its new Paris Agreement climate commitments soon, now is the time for President Biden to be more ambitious than ever on climate action here at home.

North America responsible for the world’s container shortages. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 19 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/north-america-responsible- for-the-worlds-container-shortages/ New analysis from Danish consultancy Sea-Intelligence shows just how much North America is to blame for the severe equipment imbalances challenging the global container shipping industry.

Global centre focused on reducing shipping emissions to be set up in Singapore. Clement Yong. Straits Times. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/global- centre-focused-on-reducing-shipping-emissions-to-be-set-up-in-singapore A global centre where those in the maritime industry can coordinate, research and make reducing shipping emissions a reality will be set up in Singapore, as part of recommendations by an international body to make shipping more environmentally friendly.

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Canadian shipping emits 8 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. There’s a better way. WWF Canada. 20 April 2021. Available from: https://wwf.ca/media-releases/canadian-shipping- emits-8-million-tons-of-carbon-dioxide-a-year-theres-a-better-way/ A new report commissioned by WWF-Canada found that in 2019, the 6078 vessels that operated in Canadian waters emitted eight million tons of CO2 — the equivalent of almost two coal-fired plants in one year. An opportunity for zero-emission shipping in Canada

Shipping bodies call on world leaders to bring forward discussions on global market-based measures. International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ics- shipping.org/press-release/shipping-bodies-call-on-world-leaders-to-expediate-global-market-based- measures/ Ahead of President Biden’s Leaders’ Summit on Climate, the world’s major shipping organisations have called on world leaders to urgently examine the role of market-based measures to ensure ambitious decarbonisation targets are met across the entire global shipping industry.

Climate change: Shipping industry calls for new global carbon tax. Jonathan Josephs. BBC News. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56835352 The global shipping industry is calling on the world’s governments to tax its carbon emissions.

MAN Energy Solutions Pushes for Emissions Reduction in Shipping Industry. MAN Energy Solutions. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.man-es.com/company/press-releases/press- details/2021/04/21/man-energy-solutions-pushes-for-emissions-reduction-in-shipping-industry The study outlines four scenarios that explore how to reach the maritime industry’s climate targets by 2050, but also consider the failure to do so.

EU to define whether shipping can be called sustainable. Tomas Kristiansen. ShippingWatch. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12918027.ece It will become more difficult for the maritime industry to self-govern whether or not the sector can call itself environmentally sustainable.

ABS Turns the Focus on the GHG Emissions of Shipping’s Value Chain. American Bureau of Shipping. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://news.cision.com/american-bureau-of-shipping/r/abs- turns-the-focus-on-the-ghg-emissions-of-shipping-s-value-chain,c3330507 In its latest support for the marine and offshore industry’s decarbonization drive, ABS has published a detailed life-cycle, or value-chain, analysis of the greenhouse gas footprint of the leading alternative marine fuels.

ECSA welcomes recognition of the shipping industry as a transitional sector in sustainable finance package. European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). 21 April 2021. Available from: https://www.ecsa.eu/news/ecsa-welcomes-recognition-shipping-industry-transitional- sector-sustainable-finance-package The European Commission adopted today a Sustainable Finance package with the aim of improving the flow of investments towards sustainable activities and hence using financial instruments to make Europe climate neutral by 2050.

Sustainable Finance and EU Taxonomy: Commission takes further steps to channel money towards sustainable activities. European Commission. 21 April 2021. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1804 The European Commission has today adopted an ambitious and comprehensive package of measures to help improve the flow of money towards sustainable activities across the European Union.

Shipping leaders agree that collaboration on CO2-reduction trumps competition. Idha Toft Valeur. ShippingWatch. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12922298.ece Industry players such as BW Group, Danish Maritime Industry and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore agree that collaboration on decarbonization trumps competition.

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Fitting sails and slowing down could cut shipping emissions up to 40% - IMechE report. Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). 22 April 2021. Available from: https://imeche.org/news/news-article/fitting-sails-and-slowing-down-could-cut-shipping-emissions-up- to-40---imeche-report Fitting sails to cargo ships and sailing more slowly could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry by up to 40% or possibly more as technologies improve, according to a new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Accelerating Decarbonisation in Shipping: A no Regrets Approach Using Wind Power

Shell challenges World Bank in dispute over future shipping fuel. Jens Thomsen. ShippingWatch. 22 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12921938.ece If global shipping wants to reduce CO2 emissions, shipping companies cannot exclude LNG, states Shell in the heated debate over the controversial fuel, which the World Bank has largely written off.

Bulk Carrier Casualty Report: Years 2011 to 2020 and trends. International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO). 22 April 2021. Available from: https://www.intercargo.org/wp- content/annual-report/2011-2020/#p=1 34 bulk carriers (of over 10,000 dwt) have been identified as total loses for the years 2011 to 2020.

German shipping sector optimistic about future course. German Shipowners’ Association. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.reederverband.de/en/press/press- release/artikel/deutsche-seeschifffahrt-optimistisch-auf-kurs-zukunft.html President Alfred Hartmann and CEO Ralf Nagel used this occasion to comment on the most important issues the German shipping sector is facing this year: Germany as a shipping location, seafarers in the pandemic, and climate protection.

Shipping industry urged to do more to digitalise operations. Clement Yong. Straits Times. 23 April 2021. Available from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/shipping-industry-urged-to- do-more-to-digitalise-operations Calls at conference to also step up vaccination of stranded seafarers, push for cleaner fuels.

Shipping during COVID-19: Why container freight rates have surged. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 23 April 2021. Available from: https://unctad.org/news/shipping-during-covid-19-why-container-freight-rates-have-surged UNCTAD examines the complex factors behind the unprecedented shortage of containers hampering trade’s recovery, and how to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Caribbean cruise restart flags challenges for destinations. Anne Kalosh. Seatrade Cruise News. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/caribbean-cruise- restart-flags-challenges-destinations As cruise lines plan restarts in the Bahamas and Caribbean, André Wright is concerned about destination readiness, the visitor experience and who shoulders the added costs.

US to work with Denmark to lead shipping decarbonisation. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/us-to-work-with-denmark-to-lead-shipping- decarbonisation/ Concluding the Joe Biden-led global climate summit last Friday, Jennifer Granholm, the US secretary of energy, announced plans for America to work with Denmark to develop technologies to decarbonise international shipping.

Lloyd’s Register founding member of Maritime Technologies Forum. Lloyd’s Register. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.lr.org/en/latest-news/lloyds-register-founding-member-of- maritime-technologies-forum/ Seven organisations behind the Maritime Technologies Forum seek to bridge the gap between technology knowledge and regulatory process.

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Singapore shipping struggles with boardroom diversity. Jonathan Boonzaier. TradeWinds. 26 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/insight/singapore-shipping- struggles-with-boardroom-diversity/2-1-995307 Statistics show women are still largely excluded from the C-suite. d’Amico: The challenge of decarbonisation. Splash 247.com. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/damico-the-challenge-of-decarbonisation/ Paolo d’Amico,CEO of d’Amico International Shipping and d’Amico Società di Navigazione group, has no doubt what is the next big issue to be faced by the industry.

No end in sight for equipment shortages. James Baker. Lloyd’s List. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1136598 Vicious cycle of yard congestion will put pressure on box supply for the remainder of this year.

Auramarine: VLSFO fuel quality; is the worst yet to come? Teemu Jutila. Manifold Times (Singapore). 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.manifoldtimes.com/news/auramarine-vlsfo-fuel-quality-is-the-worst-yet-to-come/ Director, Engineering and Products, at Finland-based fuel supply systems solutions provider Auramarine on Tuesday (27 April) provided Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times an article focusing on the rapidly transforming marine fuels market and its future challenges.

7% green fuels by 2030 would decarbonise EU shipping mid-century - study. Transport & Environment. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/7-green- fuels-2030-would-decarbonise-eu-shipping-mid-century-study 7% of the EU’s shipping fuels need to be green by 2030 for the sector to decarbonise by mid-century, a new study shows. Decarbonising European Shipping Technological, operational and legislative roadmap

Costing the earth: Shipping. BBC Radio. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000vght Lucy Siegle finds out about the environmental impact of shipping.

Rajesh Unni says new virus wave is a ‘recipe for disaster’ for shipping. Gary Dixon and Irene Ang. TradeWinds. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://www.tradewindsnews.com/ship- management/rajesh-unni-says-new-virus-wave-is-a-recipe-for-disaster-for-shipping/2-1-1001858 Synergy CEO explains how the Suez Canal blockage could look minor if new Covid-19 variants spread among the world fleet.

Lobby groups come under pressure to ditch ‘moonshot’ R&D proposal in favour of $100 per tonne carbon levy. Sam Chambers. Splash 247.com. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/lobby-groups-come-under-pressure-to-ditch-moonshot-rd-proposal-in-favour- of-100-per-tonne-carbon-levy/ The shipping industry’s leading global lobby group, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), last week ended its years-long opposition to carbon pricing.

NGO considers EU’s 2030 target unrealistic for shipping. Louise Wendt Jensen. ShippingWatch. 28 April 2021. Available from: https://shippingwatch.com/regulation/article12938200.ece Transport & Environment does not find it realistic for shipping to meet the EU climate goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

NCA issues warning to maritime industry over organised crime links to small boats. UK National Crime Agency (NCA). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/nca-issues-warning-to-maritime-industry-over- organised-crime-links-to-small-boats The National Crime Agency has issued an alert to the UK maritime industry, warning them that organised crime groups may target them to obtain small boats for people smugglers.

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Global scrubber washwater discharges under IMO’s 2020 fuel sulfur limit. Liudmila Osipova, Elise Georgeff and Bryan Comer. International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://theicct.org/publications/global-scrubber-discharges-Apr2021 A rapidly growing number of ships are being fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems, or “scrubbers,” as a way to comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 global fuel sulfur limit.

Turkish exporters voice concern over trouble finding containers, ships. Daily Sabah (Turkey). 29 April 2021. Available from: https://www.dailysabah.com/business/economy/turkish-exporters- voice-concern-over-trouble-finding-containers-ships Turkish exporters have once again expressed their concerns at not being able to find containers and ships available for transport, a crunch that has been hampering trade recovery.

Container shipping could go carbon neutral right now. Lars Jensen. Splash 247.com. 30 April 2021. Available from: https://splash247.com/container-shipping-could-go-carbon-neutral- right-now/ The container shipping sector is clearly beginning to take step towards the IMO 2050 goals of reducing carbon emissions by 50% – and that is 50% of the total emissions, not unit emissions per teu*mile.

RESEARCH

Karahalil M, Ozsoy B, et al. The evaluation of the Polar Code by the survey conducted with those who have sailed in polar regions, and suggestions for further improvement. Marine Policy. 1 April 2021. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X21001135 There is much evidence that ongoing global climate change has tremendous impacts on the Arctic and Antarctic environment.

Oyenuga A. Perspectives on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global and African maritime transport sectors, and the potential implications for Africa’s maritime governance. WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs. 6 April 2021. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-021- 00233-3 The maritime transport sector (MTS) has been impacted by the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, with significant disruptions to shipping and maritime activity along established transport routes.

Caserini S, Pagano D, et al. Potential of Maritime Transport for Ocean Liming and Atmospheric CO2 Removal. Frontiers in Climate. 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fclim.2021.575900 Proposals to increase ocean alkalinity may make an important contribution to meeting climate change net emission targets, while also helping to ameliorate the effects of ocean acidification.

An J, Lee K, et al. Effects of a Vessel Speed Reduction Program on Air Quality in Port Areas: Focusing on the Big Three Ports in South Korea. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 11 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/407 As the seriousness of air pollution from ports and ships is recognized, the Korean Port Authority is implementing many policies and instruments to reduce air pollution in port areas.

Vinagre-Ríos J, Pérez-Canosa J-M, et al. The effect of circadian rhythms on shipping accidents. Journal of Navigation. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://bit.ly/3568u0m It is a well-known fact that humans are subject to circadian alterations caused by the action of sunlight.

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Lau Y-Y, Dragomir C, et al. Maritime Undergraduate Students: Career Expectations and Choices. Sustainability. 13 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2071- 1050/13/8/4297/htm The following study presents an inquiry into understanding the motivating factors of students to enrol in a maritime university and to further continue with a career in the maritime industry.

March D, Metcalfe K, et al. Tracking the global reduction of marine traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Communications. 27 April 2021. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467- 021-22423-6 The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unparalleled global impacts on human mobility.

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About the cover

The CAB Cover is a photograph of the international memorial to the world’s seafarers, past, present and future which graces the entrance to IMO Headquarters in London. The memorial, a seven- metre high, ten-tonne bronze representation of the bow of a cargo ship with a lone seafarer on the deck, is the work of internationally renowned British sculptor Michael Sandle.

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